Question

What is the value of x in the equation 0.2(x + 1) + 0.5x = –0.3(x – 4)?

Answer 1

Answer: x=1

Explanation:

0.2(x+1) + 0.5x= -0.3(x-4)

Distribute the 0.2 to the parentheses

0.2x + 0.2 + 0.5= -0.3(x-4)

Distribute the -0.3 to the parentheses

0.2x + 0.2 + 0.5= -0.3x + 1.2

Combine Like Terms

0.7x + 0.2= -0.3x + 1.2

Move the variable to one side

(i picked to move the -0.3 because it is negative but you should be able to do it either way) x + 0.2 = 1.2

Use subtraction property of equality to get the variable by itself

x + 0.2 = 1.2

-0.2 -0.2

x= 1

Check it by plugging 1 wherever x appears in the original equation and solve it normally.

Answer 2

0.2(x+1)+0.5x=-0.3(x-4)
Expand the brackets
0.2x+0.2= -0.3x+1.2
Subtract 0.2 from each side
0.2x= -0.3x+1
Add 0.3 to each side
0.5x=1
Divide by 0.5 on each side
x= 1 ÷ 0.5 =2
To check, you can substitute 2 into the places of x