Answer: 7
Step-by-step explanation:
1. 17 = 3x - 4.
According to the order of operations in algebraic equations, one must first subtract or add any given number to both sides. This is because the main goal when solving is to "isolate" the variable, or in other words keep it "single" on one side of the equals sign.
2. So, next one must add the -4 to both sides (this is because the opposite of -4 is +4 or positive 4)
17 = 3x - 4
+4 +4
The 2 fours on the right cancel each other out (because -4 plus positive 4 is equal to zero). And when one adds 17 + 4, the equations looks like this:
21 = 3x
3. Now, in order to undo the operation of 3 times x, one must do the opposite of multiplying, which is division. So, one now must divide by 3 one both sides like the following:
21 = 3x
÷3 ÷3
The 3s on the right cancel each other out, and 21 divided by 3 is 7:
7 = x
Thus, 7 is equal to x.