Question

What is the solution of the equation 6x − 3 = -51?

Answer 1

First you take -3 and add itself to get 6x = -48. Then you simply divide 6 into -48 and you get x = -8

Answer 2

When solving for a variable, you undo all operations done to that variable.

In the equation 6x - 3 = -51 we see on the left-hand side that the variable x is being multiplied by 6 and subtracted 3 times.

We can reverse the subtraction operation by using the inverse of subtraction.
Which is the addition operation. If we add 3 to the left-hand side, the -3 term will disappear.

But wait! Anything we do on one side we must do also on the opposite side.


6x - 3 + 3 = -51 + 3
6x             = -48

Now how can we undo the multiplication operation done to x?
We can use division. It will make the 6 coefficient disappear!

6x / 6 = -48/6
x = -8

So, x is equal to -8.