How do you solve #5(x+8) =20#?

2 Answers
Sep 17, 2015

#color(blue)(x = -4#

Explanation:

#color(blue)(5) * (x+8)=20#

#color(blue)(5) * (x) + color(blue)(5) *(8)=20#

#5x + 40 = 20#

#5x = 20-40#

#5x = -20#

#x = -20/5#

#color(blue)(x = -4#

Aug 5, 2018

#x=-4#

Explanation:

We can start by dividing both sides by #5# to get

#x+8=4#

To completely isolate #x#, we can subtract #8# from both sides to get

#x=-4#

There is another way of going about this, however. We could have started by distributing the #5# on the left. We would get

#5x+40=20#, and we would subtract #40# from both sides, and divide both sides by #5#. Either way, we would still get #x=-4#.

Hope this helps!