Question

Start with the equation −5=x. Do the same thing to each side at least three times to create an equation that has the same solution as the starting equation.

Answer 1

Here are three different ways to manipulate the equation -5 = x to get an equivalent equation with the same solution:

Adding 5 to each side:
-5 + 5 = x + 5
0 = x + 5
x = -5
Subtracting x from each side:
-5 - x = x - x
-5 - x = 0
-5 = x
Multiplying each side by -1:
(-1)(-5) = (-1)x
5 = -x
x = -5
All three of these equations have the same solution: x = -5.