Simplifying
x + 6 = 3x + -14
Reorder the terms:
6 + x = 3x + -14
Reorder the terms:
6 + x = -14 + 3x
Solving
6 + x = -14 + 3x
Solving for variable 'x'.
Move all terms containing x to the left, all other terms to the right.
Add '-3x' to each side of the equation.
6 + x + -3x = -14 + 3x + -3x
Combine like terms: x + -3x = -2x
6 + -2x = -14 + 3x + -3x
Combine like terms: 3x + -3x = 0
6 + -2x = -14 + 0
6 + -2x = -14
Add '-6' to each side of the equation.
6 + -6 + -2x = -14 + -6
Combine like terms: 6 + -6 = 0
0 + -2x = -14 + -6
-2x = -14 + -6
Combine like terms: -14 + -6 = -20
-2x = -20
Divide each side by '-2'.
x = 10
Simplifying
x = 10
The distributive property combines multiplication with addition and multiplication with subtraction together in order to simplify the equation. It is named as such because the number outside of the open and close parenthesis are distributed to the terms inside. Say for example, the equation given is 5(2x - 3). According to the distributive property, you distribute 5 by multiplying to each of the terms inside the parentheses. The solution would be: 5*2x + 5*-3 = 10x - 15. As you can see, it involved multiplication with addition and subtraction. Generally, you just have to add all the terms while making sure you carry the sign of the integer along when you multiply them just as shown in my example.
