Question

What is the first step to solve the equation 5c = 2c – 18?

a) Subtract 2c from both sides
b) Subtract 5c from both sides
c) Add 18 to both sides
d) Divide both sides by 3

Answer 1

The first step to solve the equation 5c = 2c – 18 is to subtract 2c from both sides. Option A is answer.

Step-by-step explanation:

Given Equation: 5c = 2c - 18.

Isolate Variables: The goal is to isolate the variable c on one side of the equation.

Subtraction: To eliminate the term with 2c on the right side, subtract 2c from both sides: 5c - 2c = 2c - 2c - 18.

Combine Like Terms: Simplify both sides of the equation by combining like terms: 3c = -18.

Final Step: To solve for c, divide both sides by 3: c = -6.

Verification: Substitute c = -6 back into the original equation to verify the solution.

Option A is answer.