The value of <em>m</em> that would make this equation true is <em>10</em>. To figure this out you must work the equation to combine like terms. To start, remember PEMDAS. You would begin with <em>1/2 (8m - 18) </em>and multiply both <em>8m </em>and <em>18 </em>by <em>1/2. </em>Because half of <em>8</em> is <em>4</em> and half of<em> 18</em> is <em>9</em>, your new equation would be <em>4m - 9 = 31. </em>From here you would add nine to both sides to finish combining like terms. The equation from this point should be <em>4m = 40.</em> To find the value of <em>m</em>, you then have to divide both sides by <em>4</em>, leading to the equation/solution of <em>m = 10.</em>
