Answer:
- Distribute 2 to 9.7 and −4.8x.
- Combine 3.4 and 19.4.
- Subtract 22.8 from both sides.
- Divide both sides by −9.6
Step-by-step explanation:
Here is the recommended solution method:
3.4 + 2(9.7 – 4.8x) = 61.2 . . . . . given
3.4 + 19.4 - 9.6x = 61.2 . . . . . . . distribute 2 to 9.7 and -4.8x
22.8 - 9.6x = 61.2 . . . . . . . . . . . . combine 3.4 and 19.4
-9.6x = 38.4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . subtract 22.8 from both sides
x = -4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . divide both sides by -9.6
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<em>Alternate solution method using different steps</em>
You can also "undo" what is done to the variable, in reverse order. The variable has these operations performed on it:
- multiply by -4.8
- add 9.7
- multiply that sum by 2
- add 3.4 to the product
So, another possible solution method is this:
3.4 + 2(9.7 – 4.8x) = 61.2 . . . . . given
2(9.7 -4.8x) = 57.8 . . . . . . . . . . . add the opposite of 3.4 (undo add 3.4)
9.7 -4.8x = 28.9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . divide by 2 (undo multiply by 2)
-4.8x = 19.2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . add the opposite of 9.7 (undo add 9.7)
x = -4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . divide by -4.8 (undo multiply by -4.8)
