1. Combine like terms, so add 2.4 to -4.8 to get -2.4 So now you should be left with .02(x+20)-2.4=-9 2. Now eliminate the -2.4 by adding 2.4 to both sides, getting .02(x+20)=-6.6 3. Multiply everything by 50 to make x+20=-333, since 50×.02=1 4. subtract 20 from both sides to get x=-353
We need to distribute the parenthesis before we do anything. 0.02(x+20)=0.02x+0.4; now let's put this into the equation.
2.4+0.02x+0.4-4.8=-9; this is all about making sure we get x on one side, isolated. We need to add all the like terms.
0.02x-2=-9; let's add 2 to both sides. 0.02x=-7; let's divide each side by 0.02 so that we can have x by itself. x=-350; let's plug -350 in as in the original equation to make sure that is our answer.
