Which expression must be added to 3x-7 to equal 0?

2 Answers
Dec 27, 2016

You need to add the expression -3x+7

Explanation:

Given:" "3x-7

Write as color(green)(+3x-7)

Everything must be turned into 0

color(green)("Consider the "+3x)

The +3x means that 3x has been put with the expression and put with means add ->+, so we need to remove it which is
subtract -> -

So for this part we have color(white)(.)color(green)( 3x)color(red)(-3x)=0
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
color(green)("Consider the "-7)

Minus is remove so we have to put it back to make 0

So for this part we have color(green)(-7)color(red)(+7)=0
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
color(blue)("Putting it all together")

color(green)(3x-7 =?" "->" "3xcolor(red)(-3x)-7color(red)(+7)=0 )

" "color(green)(3x-7)color(red)(-3x+7)=0

So you need to add the expressioncolor(red)(-3x+7)

Dec 27, 2016

(-3x+7) must be added

Explanation:

Numbers or terms which add together to give zero are called additive inverses. (adding opposites)

This means the same number, but one positive and one negative.

The following are all examples of additive inverses.

(-5) + (+5) = 0

(+6b) + (-6b) = 0

(+x^2) + (-x^2) = 0

This is a very useful concept which is used in solving equations, even if you were not aware of it.
(This is how one term is "moved to the other side")

The expression which must be added to 3x-7 to give 0,
is just its additive inverse.

(+3x-7) + (-3x+7) =0

(Same numbers, opposite signs)