Question

Help please! How would I solve a 2 step equation like this? 4(x-2)=14

Answer 1

Answer: Hi!

Okay. So this equation we will solve using something called the distributive property. We use the distributive property to multiply the terms inside the parentheses (x and -2) by the term outside and in front of the parentheses (4). First, we would multiply 4 * x, which is 4x. Then, we would multiply 4 * -2, which is -8. Out equation now looks like this:

4x - 8 = 14

Our goal is to isolate the x, so now we'll use inverse operations to remove the -8 from the equation. The inverse operation for subtraction is addition, so we would add 8 to both sides:

4x - 8 = 14

   + 8  + 8

The eights cancel out, so we're left with this equation:

4x = 22

Last step! We're almost done. All we have to do now is divide 4 on both sides; in the term 4x, 4 is being multiplied by x, so the inverse operation would be division.

4x ÷ 4 = x

22 ÷ 4 = 5.5

Our equation now looks like this:

x = 5.5

So, 5.5 is equal to x! This would be your answer!

Hope this helps!