Final answer:
To solve 2(3x + 4) = 20, distribute the 2 to get 6x + 8, subtract 8 from both sides, then divide by 6 to isolate x, resulting in x = 2.
Step-by-step explanation:
To prove that x = 2 using the algebraic equation 2(3x + 4) = 20, start by distributing the 2 across the parentheses: 2 × 3x + 2 × 4. This simplifies to 6x + 8. Next, isolate the variable x by doing the opposite of the operations surrounding it. Subtract 8 from both sides to get 6x = 12. Then, divide both sides by 6 to isolate x, resulting in x = 2.