Question

What was the error in this equation?

Answer 1

The error is the solution.

The solution is all real numbers, or infinite amount of solutions.

Explanation:

Step 1: Write equation

-4(2n - 3) = 12 - 8n

Step 2: Solve for n

1. Distribute -4: -8n + 12 = 12 - 8n
2. Subtract 12 on both sides: -8n = -8n
3. Add 8n to both sides: 0 = 0

Here we see that n can equal any number. If you plug in any number n, it will render the equation true. Therefore, our solution is n = infinite amount of solutions.

n = 0 is only slightly correct. 0 does work as the solution, but there are solutions as well.