How do you solve $3(x+7)= -2x-(3x+3)$ ?

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Answer 1 · 2017-02-21T23:01:54

See the entire solution process below:

First, expand the terms in parenthesis on each side of the equation:

$color(red)(3)(x + 7) = -2x - (3x + 3)$

$(color(red)(3) xx x) + (color(red)(3) xx 7) = -2x - 3x - 3$

$3x + 21 = (-2 - 3)x - 3$

$3x + 21 = -5x - 3$

Next, subtract $color(red)(21)$ and add $color(blue)(5x)$ to each side of the equation to isolate the $x$ term while keeping the equation balanced:

$3x + 21 - color(red)(21) + color(blue)(5x) = -5x - 3 - color(red)(21) + color(blue)(5x)$

$3x + color(blue)(5x) + 21 - color(red)(21) = -5x + color(blue)(5x) - 3 - color(red)(21)$

$(3 + 5)x + 0 = 0 - 24$

$8x = -24$

Now, divide each side of the equation by $color(red)(8)$ to solve for $x$ while keeping the equation balanced:

$(8x)/color(red)(8) = -24/color(red)(8)$

$(color(red)(cancel(color(black)(8)))x)/cancel(color(red)(8)) = -3$

$x = -3$

How do you solve 3(x+7)= -2x-(3x+3)3(x+7)= -2x-(3x+3)?