Question

How do you solve `2b + 5 = b + 7`?

Answer 1

`b = 2`

Explanation:

`2b + 5 = b + 7`

`2b - b = 7 - 5`

`b = 2`

Answer 2

`2b + 5 = b + 7`
`2b = b + 2`
`b = + 2`
`b = 2`

Explanation:

You need all of the '`b`'s on one side of the equals sign and the numbers on the other side. To cancel out a positive from the left side (`+5`) you need to minus it. You always do the same on the opposite side that you did on the original side.

FOR EXAMPLE.

`2b + 5 = b + 7`

You would need to minus the five from both sides so....

`2b + 0 = b + 2`

Then simply minus the '`b`' from the right side and the left side so the sum changes to:

`b + 0 = 0b + 2`

Then you cancel out the zeros so it makes:

`b = 2`