Question

Consider this equation:
-2x-4+5x=8
Generate a plan to solve for the variable. Describe the
steps that will be used.

Answer 1

Answer:

• Plan: separate the variable term from the constant term; divide by the coefficient of the variable.
• Steps: add 4 to both sides; collect terms; divide both sides by 3.

Step-by-step explanation:

The first step is to look a the equation to see where the variable is in relation to the equal sign, and whether there are any constants on that same side of the equal sign.

Here, the variable terms are on the left, and there is a constant there, as well. The plan for solving the equation is to eliminate the constant that is on the same side of the equation as the variable, then divide by the coefficient of the variable. To find that coefficient, we need to collect terms. In summary, the plan is to ...

• add 4 to both sides of the equation
• collect terms
• divide by the coefficient of the variable (3)

Executing that plan, the steps are ...

  -2x -4 +5x +4 = 8 +4 . . . . add 4

  3x = 12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . collect terms

  x = 4 . . . . . . . . . divide by 3

Answer 2

Answer:

The goal is to get x all alone. First combine like terms. Apply the addition property of equality to add 4 to both sides. Apply the division property of equality to divide both sides by 3. The result will be x = 4. Finally, check the solution by substituting 4 into the original equation.

Step-by-step explanation: