Question

What value of b will make the expressions −12.8x+b and −3.2(4x−2.1)+2.4 equivalent?

Answer 1

Note that:

`-12.8x+b = -3.2(4x-2.1)+2.4`

Simplifying the distributive property.

`-12.8x+b = -3.2(4x-2.1)+2.4`

`-12.8x+b = -12.8x + 6.72+2.4\\`

Simplifying the RHS.

`-12.8x+b = -12.8x + 9.12`

Canceling out -12.8x.

`b = 9.12`