Question

How do you solve `-32- 4n = 5( n - 1)`?

Answer 1

`n = -3`

Explanation:

`-32 - 4n = 5(n - 1)`

First, distribute 5 to (n -1), per PEMDAS. You should now have:

`-32 - 4n = 5n - 5`

We want to negate the lowest variable in order to solve for n. Add 4n to each side to negate -4n. You should now have:

`-32 = 9n - 5`

Add 5 to each side to negate -5.

`-27 = 9n`

Divide by 9 to isolate for n.

`-27/9` = `-3` = `n`

`n` = `-3`

Answer 2

`n = -3`

Explanation:

To solve for the variable `n` in the equation #-32-4n=5(n-1)

Begin by using the distributive property to eliminate the parenthesis.

#-32 -4n =5(n-1)

`-32 - 4n = 5n - 5`

Now use the additive inverse to place the variable terms on the same side of the equation.

`-32 - 4n -5n = cancel(5n) - 5 cancel (-5n)`

`-32 -9n = -5`

Now use the additive inverse to place the numeric terms on the same side of the equation.

`cancel(-32) -9n cancel (+32) = -5 +32`

`-9n = 27`

Use the multiplicative inverse to isolate the variable.

`((cancel-9)n)/(cancel(-9)) = 27/-9`

`n = -3`