Question

Match each equation to a step that will help solve the equation for x.

3x = -4

Select one:
add 3 to each side
add (-1/3) to each side
add (1/3) to each side
multiply each side by (1/3)
multiply each side by 3
multiply each side by -3
multiply each side by (-1/3)
add -3 to each side

Answer 1

To solve the equation 3x = -4 for x, the correct step is to multiply each side by (1/3) to isolate x on one side of the equation.

Step-by-step explanation:

To solve the equation 3x = -4 for x, we need to isolate x on one side of the equation. We can do this by performing the same operation on both sides of the equation. In this case, we should multiply each side by (1/3), which is the reciprocal of the coefficient of x. This will cancel the 3 on the left side and leave us with x alone on that side.

Using the steps of problem-solving:

1. Identify the unknown: x is the unknown.
2. Identify the knowns: 3 (the coefficient of x) and -4 (the constant on the right side).
3. Choose an equation and rearrange it to solve for x. Here, we divide both sides by 3 or equivalently multiply by (1/3).

So the correct step to solve the equation for x is multiply each side by (1/3).

Answer 2

Multiply or divide each side by 3