Question

Following the recommended steps for solving equations, what should be your first step in solving the given

equation?
2x-3-4x-2x = -6
A. add 3 to both sides
B. subtract 4x from 2x
C. add 6 to both sides
D. add 4x to 2x

Answer 1

The first step in solving the equation should be to add 3 to both sides.

Explanation:

Adding 3 to both sides will cancel out the -3 on the left hand side of the equation, leaving only the 2x term. On the right hand side, adding 3 will cancel out the -6, leaving only 0. This will give you the equation 2x = 0, which is much easier to solve.