How do you solve -4(3+x)+5=4(x+3)?

1 Answer
Jul 24, 2017

See a solution process below:

Explanation:

First, expand the terms in parenthesis on each side of the equation by multiplying all the terms within the parenthesis by the term outside the parenthesis:

color(red)(-4)(3 + x) + 5 = color(blue)(4)(x + 3)

(color(red)(-4) xx 3) + (color(red)(-4) xx x) + 5 = (color(blue)(4) xx x) + (color(blue)(4) xx 3)

-12 + (-4x) + 5 = 4x + 12

-12 - 4x + 5 = 4x + 12

-12 + 5 - 4x = 4x + 12

-7 - 4x = 4x + 12

Next, add color(red)(4x) and subtract color(blue)(12) from each side of the equation to isolate the x term while keeping the equation balanced:

-7 - color(blue)(12) - 4x + color(red)(4x) = 4x + color(red)(4x) + 12 - color(blue)(12)

-19 - 0 = (4 + color(red)(4))x + 0

-19 = 8x

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

-19/color(red)(8) = (8x)/color(red)(8)

-19/8 = (color(red)(cancel(color(black)(8)))x)/cancel(color(red)(8))

-19/8 = x

x = -19/8