Question

How do you solve `-21w + 5 = 3w - 1`?

Answer 1

`w=1/4`

Explanation:

`-21w+5=3w-1`
`-21wcolor(red)(+21w)+5=3w-1color(red)(+21w)`
`+5color(red)(+1)=24w-1color(red)(+1)`
`6=24w`
`6/24=w`
`(1*cancel(6))/(4*cancel(6))=w`
`w=1/4`
\0/ here's our answer!

Answer 2

`w=1/4` or `w=0.25`

Explanation:

`-21w+5=3w-1`

Step 1: subtract `5` from both sides

`-21w+5-5=3w-1-5`

Step 2: combine like terms and simplify

`-21w=3w-6`

Step 3: Subtract `3w` from both sides to isolate the variable

`-21w-3w=-6`

`-24w=-6`

Step 4: Divide by `-24` on each side

`w= (-6)/-24`

Dividing by two negatives gives you a positive number so when simplifying, the negatives cancel out and you are able to divide each side by `6`, thus giving you an answer of

`w=1/4` or `w=0.25`.