Final answer:
To solve the equation −9 = 3(m − 5) − m, distribute 3 inside the parentheses, combine like terms, simplify, and isolate m to find that m = 3.
Step-by-step explanation:
The problem given is −9 = 3(m − 5) − m and we need to solve for the variable m. To solve this equation, we can distribute the 3 to both terms inside the parentheses and then combine like terms:
- Distribute the 3: −9 = 3*m − 15 − m
- Combine like terms: −9 = 3m − m − 15
- Simplify the coefficients of m: −9 = 2m − 15
- Add 15 to both sides: 6 = 2m
- Divide both sides by 2: m = 3
The solution to the equation is m = 3. Note that this process is similar to how we would handle normal arithmetic operations like subtraction of negative numbers, for example 2 − (−6) = 2 + 6 = 8.