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17 votes
17 votes
2.-2(3+x)= 10

−6+2x=10
+6 +6
2x/2 = 16/2
X=8
What is the error? What should have the student have done instead? Work the problem correctly.

User Pierreaurelemartin
by
2.3k points

1 Answer

24 votes
24 votes

Explanation:

What is the error?

The error was when multiplying in the brackets -2(3+x) the student mistakenly multiplied -2 • x as +2x

What should have the student have done instead?

The student would have multiplied -2(3+x) as -6-2x

Which would have made -2(3+x) = 10 to be -6-2x = 10

Work the problem correctly.

-2(3 + x) = 10

Multiply the values in the bracket by -2

- 6 - 2x = 10

Add 6 to both sides

- 6 + 6 - 2x = 10 + 6

- 2x = 16

Divide both sides by -2 to single out the variable

- 2x/-2 = 16/-2

x = -8

User Mwarger
by
2.6k points