Question

Solve the equation 3x-3= -18

Answer 1

3x - 3 = -18

add 3 to each side:

3x = -15

divide each side by 3

x = -15/3

x = -5

Answer 2

Alright! So the first step to solving 3x-3=-18 is isolating the variable. In other words, you want to make sure x is all by itself on one side of the equal sign.

3x-3=-18
   +3   +3  Remember: What you do to one side, you have to do to the other.
3x = -15

Now divide by the coefficient (the number in front of x).

(3x)/3 = (-15)/3
x = -5