Question

How do you solve `3v+5-7v+18=17`?

Answer 1

We want to have all the terms involving `v` on one side, and all the known numbers on the other side.

To do so, begin with subtracting 18 from both sides:
`3v+5−7v+18-18=17-18`, which yields
`3v+5−7v=-1`

Then, subtract 5 from both sides:
`3v+5−7v-5=-1-5`, which yields
`3v−7v=-6`

Now we compute `3v-7v= v(3-7)=-4v`

We have finally reached the form
`-4v=-6`, which means that we have all terms involving the variable `v` on the left and all known numbers on the right.

We can divide by 4 on both sides, and get
`-v=-\frac{6}{4}=-\frac{3}{2}`
and finally deduct `v=\frac{3}{2}`.