Answer:
m = 3
Explanation:
You want to solve for m the equation 5m -8 = 2m +1.
Solution
The smaller coefficient of an m-term is 2 in the term 2m. Subtracting that term will put the only m-term on the left:
5m -8 -2m = 2m +1 -2m . . . . . subtract 2m
3m -8 = 1 . . . . . . . . simplify
Adding 8 will separate the m-term from the constant term:
3m -8 +8 = 1 +8 . . . . . . add 8
3m = 9 . . . . . . . . . . simplify
Dividing by 3 will give the value of m:
3m/3 = 9/3 . . . . . . . . . . divide by 3
m = 3 . . . . . . . . . . . simplify
The value of m is 3.
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Additional comment
With some practice, you can identify the smaller variable term and the constant on the other side of the equal sign: 2m and -8. Adding the opposites of these can be done in one step:
5m -8 +(8 -2m) = 2m +1 +(8 -2m)
3m = 9 . . . . . simplify
Dividing by the coefficient of the variable completes the solution.
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