How do you solve x-(12-x)=38#?

2 Answers
Feb 21, 2016

#x=25#

Explanation:

#x-12+x=38#
#x+x=38+12#
#2x=50#
#x=25#

Feb 21, 2016

#x=25#

Explanation:

We start with #x-(12-x)=38#

Now, I like to begin by simplifying everything I can, and then combining like terms to reduce it down to its most concise form. In this case, I'm going to get rid of the parentheses.

So, we have #-(12-x)#. The #-# in front of the parentheses is actually a #-1#, and we will distribute the #-1# into #(12-x)#. It is now #((12*-1)-(x*-1))#, or #-12--x#, which is just #-12+x#.

The equation is now #x-12+x=38#. We can add #12# to both sides and combine the #x#s until we have #2x=50#.

Divide by #2# on both sides as we have #x=25#!