Final answer:
The best step for solving an equation depends on the given equation, aiming to isolate the unknown by eliminating fractions or decimals through multiplication or division. Multiplying both sides by a common factor can make manipulation easier.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine the best first step to solving the equation, we need to consider the equation itself, which is not provided. However, generally, the goal is to isolate the unknown variable on one side of the equation. If you are given an equation in which you can eliminate fractions or decimals by multiplying or dividing both sides by a number, that's often a good first step. For example, if you have a fraction, you would multiply both sides by the denominator of that fraction to get rid of it. When you have a coefficient attached to the variable that's a fraction or a decimal, you typically want to multiply to get a whole number coefficient for easier manipulation.
If you need to make two sides integers in an equation, multiplying both sides by the same factor is a helpful step. When working with oxidation numbers in chemistry, it is common to use coefficients to balance equations, by multiplying them so that the increase in oxidation number equals the decrease. This technique can also be used in algebra to adjust the coefficients of variables.