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Jalil and Victoria are each asked to solve the equation ax – c = bx + d for x. Jalil says it is not possible to isolate x because each x has a different unknown coefficient. Victoria believes there is a solution, and shows Jalil her work:

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solve the equation ax – c = bx + d for x:

1) Group the x terms together on the left: ax - bx - c = d

2) Group the constant terms together: ax - bx = c + d

3) factor out x: x(a - b) = c + d

4) Divide both sides of the equation by (a - b) to obtain a formula for x:
c+d
x(a - b) = c + d => x = ---------
a-b

This shows that the given equation CAN be solved for x, but there is a restriction: a must NOT equal b, because if a-b = 0, we'd have division by zero (which is not defined).

Where is Victoria's solution? Please share it if you want to discuss this problem further. Thank you.

User AndrewBloom
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4 votes

Answer:

A , Rewrite the expression on the left using the distributive property.

User Flor
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