Question

How do you solve `x+ 2x = 360`?

Answer 1

`x=120`

Explanation:

Let's simplify the left side. `x` and `2x` are like terms, given that they are both multiplied by `x`:
`(\color(blue)(1))x and (2)x`*

We can apply the Distributive Property to that, and get
`(1+2)x=3x`.

Now we solve for the value of `x`:
`3x=360`
Divide both sides by 3 to isolate the variable:
`\frac(\cancel(\color(red)(3))x)(\cancel(\color(red)(3)))=360/\color(red)(3)`
`x=120`

*Note: Any variable without a written coefficient is read as coefficient 1.

Answer 2

The answer is 120.

Explanation:

First we group like terms together, in this case `x` and `2x`.

`x+2x=3x`

Now we have: `3x=360`

We need to calculate `x`, (not `3x`) so we must divide by 3.

What we do to the LHS, we do to the RHS, so we divide 360 by 3 to get `120`.