Question

Question #2e711

Answer 1

`3x-20=2`

`3x=22`

Thus, x=`22/3`

Answer 2

6

Explanation:

This can be written as
`20-(3x)=2`

To make it easier to work with, reorder it as
`-3x+20=2`

Now you can subtract 20 from both sides
`(-3x+20)-20=(2)-20`
`-3x=-18`

From here you can divide by -1 then 3, divide by 3 then -1, or divide by negative 3. No matter what you choose, you'll end up with the same answer. I'll show dividing by -3
`-3x/-3=-18/-3`
`x=6`

Therefore, the unknown number is -6. Plug this back into the first equation to check it
`20-(3(6))=2`
`20-18=2`
`2=2`