Question

Which Is A Correct First Step For Solving This Equation? -5(4x-7)+8=3x

Answer 1

I'm not sure if this is a multiple choice question, so I will just solve the equation.

-5 (4x - 7) + 8 = 3x

-5 (4x + (-7)) + 8 = 3x

1. Distributive Property of Multiplication

(-5)(4x) + (-5)(-7) + 8 = 3x

2. Simplify

-20x + (-35) + 8 = 3x

3. Simplify again

-20x - 27 = 3x

4. Add 27 to both sides and then subtract 3x from both sides to get all the x's by themselves on the same side

-20x - 27 + 27 = 3x + 27

-20x - 3x = 3x + 27 - 3x

5. Simplify

-23x = 27

6. Divide

-23x / -23 = 27 / -23

7. Simplify

Answer:

x = - 27/23 ≈ -1.17

Hope this helps!