Answer:
No, Matt did not solve the equation correctly
Correct Answer: x = 8
Explanation:
4(x + 2) = 30
Step 1: Distribute
4x + 2 = 30
This is his mistake, he should completely distribute 4
to x and 2
Step 2: Subtract 2 from both sides/Isolate x
4x = 28
This part is done correctly, but wrong because of Step 1
Step 3: Divide both sides by 4
x = 7
This is correct, but again, he messed up on Step 1
Let's find the correct answer to this equation:
4(x +2) = 30
Step 1: Distribute
Remember to distribute 4 to all terms in the parenthesis.
4(x + 2) = 4(x) + 4(2)
= 4x + 8
4x + 8 = 30
Step 2: Subtract 8 from both sides/Isolate x
Move all the terms that do not belong to x to the other side. We can do this by subtracting 8 from both sides
(opposite operation of adding 8)
4x + 8 = 30
4x = 30 - 8
4x = 32
Step 3: Divide both sides by 4/Isolate x
Now we want x by itself. Since x is being multiplied by 4, we have to use the opposite operation, dividing by 4, to have x on one side by itself
4x = 32
4(x) = 32
x = 32 ÷ 4
x = 8
-Chetan K