Question

Alice tried to solve the equation. What was her mistake?

-1/4(x - 12) = -1
-1/4x = 11
x = -44

Answer 1

She forgot to distribute the -1/4 to the -12

Answer 2

she didn’t multiply -1/4 by 12 in order to get -1/4x + 3 = -1

which would change her answer, because then you have to subtract 3 from -1 and get -4. Then divide -1/4 & get 16. It changed to positive because of the division & multiplication rule with two negative numbers.


Hope this helps.