In order to solve this equation for x, the first step is using the distributive property of multiplication:
[tex]a(b+c)=a\cdot b+a\cdot c[/tex]So, solving the equation for x, we have:
[tex]\begin{gathered} 1.\text{ Distributive property on the left side:}\\ \\ 5x-5\cdot3=-11\\ \\ 5x-15=-11\\ \\ 2.\text{ Add 15 to both sides:}\\ \\ 5x-15+15=-11+15\\ \\ 5x=4\\ \\ 3.\text{ Divide both sides by 5:}\\ \\ \frac{5x}{5}=\frac{4}{5}\\ \\ x=\frac{4}{5} \end{gathered}[/tex]Therefore the solution is x = 4/5 or x = 0.8.
