Answer:
x = 6
Explanation:
You want to solve for x the equation ...
5(x -4) = 10
2 Steps
This is a variation of a 2-step equation. Usually those are solved by first eliminating the unwanted constant, then eliminating the unwanted coefficient.
Here, we can do these steps in reverse order:
5(x -4) = 10 . . . . . . given
x - 4 = 2 . . . . . . . . divide by 5
x = 6 . . . . . . . add 4
The value of x is 6.
__
Additional comment
The solution process seeks to undo the operations done to the variable. The reverse of the order of those operations is used. Here, the variable has 4 subtracted, then the sum is multiplied by 5. We chose to undo the multiplication first, then undo the subtraction.
If you eliminate the parentheses to get the "simplified" equation ...
5x -20 = 10
the operations done to the variable are effectively changed to "multiply it by 5", then "subtract 20." The solution steps for this are the steps identified for the usual 2-step equation, above: deal with the constant 20, then deal with the coefficient 5.
Either way, you get the same solution. Our method here uses fewer steps and works with smaller numbers.
<95141404393>