Question

What numeric value of b would make the following two expressions equivalent? bx +2.4 and 6(2x+0.4) + 3x

Answer 1

For the two expressions to be equivalent, then we would have;

`bx+2.4=6(2x+0.4)+3x`

We solve the right hand side and we'll now have;

`\begin{gathered} bx+2.4=12x+2.4+3x \\ bx+2.4=15x+2.4 \\ \text{Collect all like terms and you'll have} \\ 2.4-2.4=15x-bx \\ 0=15x-bx \\ Add\text{ bx to both sides of the equation} \\ 0+bx=15x-bx+bx \\ bx=15x \\ \text{Divide both sides by x} \\ (bx)/(x)=(15x)/(x) \\ b=15 \end{gathered}`

The first option is the correct one.

b = 15