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3 votes
-4(x+1)+5=17 solve for x

User Pamelloes
by
5.9k points

2 Answers

4 votes

-4(x + 1) + 5 = 17

Distribute -4 inside the parentheses.

(-4x - 4) + 5 = 17

Combine like terms (-4 + 5).

-4x + 1 = 17

Subtract 1 from both sides.

-4x = 16

Divide both sides by -4.

x = -4

User UpHiller
by
5.7k points
4 votes

First distribute -4 to all terms within the parenthesis

-4(x) = -4x

-4(1) = -4

-4x - 4 + 5 = 17

Simplify. Combine like terms

-4x (-4 + 5) = 17

-4x + 1 = 17

Isolate the x. Do the opposite of PEMDAS. Note the equal sign. What you do to one side you do to the other.

Subtract 1 from both sides

-4x + 1 (-1) = 17 (-1)

-4x = 16

Divide -4 from both sides

-4x/-4 = 16/-4

x = 16/-4

x = -4

-4 is your answer

hope this helps

User EbinPaulose
by
6.0k points