Question

Emeril solved this equation using the steps shown below:

4b + 2b – 3 = –21
1. Combine like terms: 6b − 3 = −21
2. Subtraction property of equality: 6b = −24
3. Subtraction property of equality: b = −4

Analyze the steps Emeril used to solve for the variable to determine if he made an error. In which step did Emeril make an error?
Step 1: He didn’t combine like terms correctly.
Step 2: He should have added 3 to, rather than subtracting 3 from, both sides.
Step 3: He should have gotten a positive answer when dividing -24 by 6.

Answer 1

He made an error in step 2 because you are supposed to do the inverse operations on the -3 which would be +3.

Answer 2

Step 2: He should have added 3 to, rather than subtracting 3 from, both sides.

Explanation:

1. Combine like terms: 6b − 3 = −21

2. Subtraction property of equality: 6b = −24

Here he has to add 3 on both sides, to isolate the variable term.

Therefore, answer is Step2) He should have added 3 to, rather than subtracting 3 from, both sides.

Hope this will helpful.

Thank you.