Question

3x – 5 =-10
6. To solve the equation in the box for the
value of x, Michele started by adding 5 to both
sides. To get the correct answer, what must
Michele do next?
A divide both sides by 10
B. divide both sides by 3
C. multiply both sides by 10
D. multiply both sides by 3

Answer 1

After adding 5 to both sides what did Michele get? Let's see

$3x-5 + 5 = -10 + 5\\3x= -5$

If she wants to find the value of $x$ then she needs to have only the variable $x$ on the left hand side. What she must do so that $3x$ becomes just $x$?  What do you have to do to the number 3 so it becomes a 1? That's right, she must divide by 3!

So, after dividing both sides by 3:

$\frac{3x}{3} = \frac{-10}{3} \\\\\boxed{x=\frac{-10}{3}}$

Thus, the correct answer is letter B