Final answer:
No, the equation 5x - 2 = 5x - 4 has no solution, but the inequality 5x - 2 > 5x - 4 has a solution.
Step-by-step explanation:
No, your friend is not correct. The equation 5x - 2 = 5x - 4 can be solved by using algebraic manipulation. By subtracting 5x from both sides of the equation, we get -2 = -4, which is not true. This means that the original equation has no solution. However, the inequality 5x - 2 > 5x - 4 will have a solution. When we subtract 5x from both sides and simplify, we get -2 > -4, which is true. So, the inequality has a solution while the equation does not have a solution.
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