Question

How do you solve `4( x - 2) = x + 7`?

Answer 1

`x=5`

Explanation:

Given: `4(x-2)=x+7`.

Expand the left side.

`4x-8=x+7`

Subtract `7` from both sides.

`4x-8-7=x`

`4x-15=x`

Subtract `4x` from both sides.

`-15=x-4x`

`-15=-3x`

Divide by `-3`.

`x=(-15)/-3`

`=5`

Answer 2

`x=5`

Explanation:

To solve for the variable in the equation `4(x-2)=x+7`

Begin by eliminating the parenthesis by using the distributive property.

`4(x-2)=x+7`

`4x-8=x+7`

`3x-8=7`

Use the additive inverse to get the `x` terms on one side of the equation.

`4x-8-x= cancelx +7 cancel(-x)`

`3x-8=7`

Use the additive inverse to get the constant values on the same side of the equation

`3xcancel(-8) cancel(+8)=7+8`

`3x=15`

Now use the multiplicative inverse to solve for `x`

`(cancel(3)x)/cancel3 =15/3`

`x=5`