Question

If `8x+5(3+x)-a=15+5x`, then what is a?

Answer 1

`a = 8x`

Explanation:

Your equation looks like this

`8x + 5 * (3 + x) -a = 15 + 5x`

The terms that can be found on both sides of the equation can be cancelled out

`8x + color(red)(cancel(color(black)(15))) + color(blue)(cancel(color(black)(5x))) -a = color(red)(cancel(color(black)(15))) + color(blue)(cancel(color(black)(5x)))`

`8x - a = 0`

To solve this equation for `a`, you need to isolate it on one side of the equation.

This can be done by adding `a` to both sides of the equation to get

`8x- color(red)(cancel(color(black)(a))) + color(red)(cancel(color(black)(a))) = a`

Therefore,

`a = color(green)(8x)`