Question

3(x+1)+9=∆. If the equation has no solution, which expression can be written in the box on the other side of the equation?

Answer 1

A number of different things could go in place of the box to make it no solution. One example would be 3x - 1.

You can tell this by looking at the equation and distributing the 3 and simplifying.

3(x + 1) + 9

3x + 3 + 9

3x + 12

Now, to write something that gives us no solution on the other side, we keep the same value for the coefficient of x, but a different number for the constant. If we use the example from above, you'll get an improper answer.

3x + 12 = 3x - 1 ----> subtract 3x from both sides

12 = -1 (Since this is an untrue statement, we know that this has no solution).