Question

4. Jose is doing his Algebra homework and comes to a problem that

asks him to solve the equation 5x = 2x. He is unsure whether to divide
both sides by 2x or subtract 2x from each side. Will both methods
lead him to a correct solution or is one method correct and the other
incorrect? Explain your reasoning.

Answer 1

• x = 0
• Subtraction method

Explanation:

Given equation

• 5x = 2x

Solving for x

• 5x - 2x = 2x - 2x
• 3x = 0
• 3x/3 = 0/3
• x = 0

Let's see what the division method gives

• 5x = 2x
• 5x/2x = 2x/2x
• 2.5 = 1, which is impossible

No solution. This method proves to be incorrect.