How do you solve for x: 3(2-x)=-12?

1 Answer
Jun 28, 2016

I got x = 6

Explanation:

First, you want to use the distributive property:

![www.coolmath.com](useruploads.socratic.org)

If we follow that illustration, we will have to distribute the 3 to everything inside of the parenthesis to get this:

3xx2 - 3xxX =-12

Let's make the equation look better by rewriting it:

6-3x = -12

Next, subtract 6 on both sides of the equals sign to get -3x by itself and to remove the 6 on the left hand side of the equation:

-3x = -18

Finally, divide by -3 on both sides of the equals sign to find x:
(-3x)/-3 = (-18)/-3

Thus, x = 6