Answer:
Simplifying
-5 + -1(3a + b) + (2a + -7b) = 0
-5 + (3a * -1 + b * -1) + (2a + -7b) = 0
-5 + (-3a + -1b) + (2a + -7b) = 0
Remove parenthesis around (2a + -7b)
-5 + -3a + -1b + 2a + -7b = 0
Reorder the terms:
-5 + -3a + 2a + -1b + -7b = 0
Combine like terms: -3a + 2a = -1a
-5 + -1a + -1b + -7b = 0
Combine like terms: -1b + -7b = -8b
-5 + -1a + -8b = 0
Solving
-5 + -1a + -8b = 0
Solving for variable 'a'.
Move all terms containing a to the left, all other terms to the right.
Add '5' to each side of the equation.
-5 + -1a + 5 + -8b = 0 + 5
Reorder the terms:
-5 + 5 + -1a + -8b = 0 + 5
Combine like terms: -5 + 5 = 0
0 + -1a + -8b = 0 + 5
-1a + -8b = 0 + 5
Combine like terms: 0 + 5 = 5
-1a + -8b = 5
Add '8b' to each side of the equation.
-1a + -8b + 8b = 5 + 8b
Combine like terms: -8b + 8b = 0
-1a + 0 = 5 + 8b
-1a = 5 + 8b
Divide each side by '-1'.
a = -5 + -8b
Simplifying
a = -5 + -8b
Explanation: