Final answer:
To solve the equation 4u + 15 - 18 = 17, we combine like terms, isolate the variable 'u', and divide both sides by the coefficient of 'u' to find that u = 5.
Step-by-step explanation:
The equation 4u + 15 - 18 = 17 needs to be solved for the variable u. First, we combine like terms on the left side of the equation, which are the constant terms 15 and -18.
Adding them gives us -3, so the equation simplifies to 4u - 3 = 17. Next, we add 3 to both sides to isolate the term with the variable, resulting in 4u = 20. Finally, dividing both sides by 4 gives us u = 5, which is our solution.
It is important to eliminate terms wherever possible to simplify the algebra and then check the answer to see if it is reasonable, which in this case it is.