Question

Malloy solved the equation −5x − 16 = 8; his work is shown below. Identify the error and where it was made. −5x − 16 = 8 Step 1: −5x − 16 + 16 = 8 + 16 Step 2: −5x = 24 Step 3: negative five times x over five = twenty-four over five Step 4: x = twenty-four over five

Answer 1

He did multiplication instead of division

Answer 2

Malloy error was in step 3, Malloy put -5x over 5 = 24 over 5, but the correct way to do step 3 is -5x over -5 = 24 over -5 which then x would equal to 24 over -5 or x = -4.8 in simpler terms