Question

Does anyone have the answer to this?
3(x+2)-7 = 5x + 7.

Answer 1

`x = -4`

Explanation:

As I was taught in Algebra class, we use the distributive property to solve this, although there are other ways.

`3(x+2)-7 = 5x + 7`

Step 1: Distribute.

We are going to distribute 3 to
`x` and +2 (positive 2). Which means multiplying 3 to
`x` and 2.

`3(x+2)\\3\cdot x = 3x\\3\cdot 2 = 6\\\\= 3x+6`

So, therefore, we have
`3x+6-7=5x+7`

Step 2: Combine like terms.

Combining like terms simply means adding, values that are alike. For example, we can only add
`x` and
`x`,
`y` and
`y`, or a number and another number. Note, we can only combine like terms on one side of the equation, meaning at the end of the equal to sign.

`3x+\bold6\:\:\bold-\bold7=5x+7`

Here we have +6 and -7, so adding those two would result in -1

So, therefore, we have
`3x-1=5x+7`

Step 3: Solve for
`x`

`3x-1=5x+7`

• Subtract both sides by 7

`3x-1=5x+7\\\:\:\:\:-7\:\:\:\:\:\:\:\:\:\:\:\:\:\:\:\:\:-7`

7 - 7 = 0, so it cancels that side out.

-1 + 7 = -8, so we are left with;

`3x-8=5x`

• Subtract 3
  `\bold x` from both sides

`3x-8=5x\\-3\:\:\:\:\:\:-3x`

3x - 3x = 0, so it cancels that side out.

5 - 3 = -2, so we are left with;

`-8=2x`

• Divide both sides by 2

`(2x)/(2)=(-8)/(2)`

2 over 2 cancels out

`(-8)/(2) = -4`

x = -4