Answer:
x = 5
Explanation:
Ordinarily, one would not need the distributive property to solve this equation. It is quickly and easily solved by making use of the multiplication property of equality: multiply both sides of the equation by 1/3.
3x(1/3) = 15(1/3)
x = 5
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To use the distributive property, we need the sum of two terms that have a common factor. We can get that form by subtracting 15 from both sides of the equation (subtraction property of equality):
3x - 15 = 15 - 15 . . . . subtract 15
3x -15 = 0 . . . . . . . . .simplify
Now, we can apply the distributive property to remove a factor of 3:
3(x -5) = 0
And we can use the multiplication property of equality to multiply by 1/3:
3(1/3)(x -5) = 0(1/3)
x -5 = 0 . . . . . . . . . . simplify
Finally, we can add 5 to both sides of the equation (addition property of equality):
x -5 +5 = 0 +5
x + 0 = 5 . . . . . . simplify
x = 5 . . . . . . . . . .simplify more