Question

Write the verbal sentence as an equation and tell whether 4 is a solution. Explain why 4 is or is not a solution. The difference of x and 8 is -4.

a) ( x - 8 = -4 ), 4 is not a solution because it results in 0.
b) ( x - 8 = -4 ), 4 is a solution because (4 - 8 = -4).
c) ( x + 8 = -4 ), 4 is not a solution because it results in a positive value.
d) ( x + 8 = -4 ), 4 is a solution because (4 + 8 = -4).

Answer 1

The verbal sentence, 'The difference of x and 8 is -4,' can be written as the equation (x - 8 = -4). 4 is a solution because substituting 4 for x in the equation produces a true statement (-4 = -4).

Step-by-step explanation:

The verbal sentence, 'The difference of x and 8 is -4,' can be written as the equation (x - 8 = -4). To determine whether 4 is a solution or not, we substitute 4 for x in the equation to see if it produces a true statement. Plugging in 4, we get (4 - 8 = -4), which simplifies to (-4 = -4). Since -4 is equal to -4, we can conclude that 4 is indeed a solution to the equation.