Question

How do you solve `20- 2( 3x - 2) = 3x`?

Answer 1

See the entire solution process below:

Explanation:

First, expand the terms in parenthesis by multiply each term inside the parenthesis by the term outside the parenthesis:

`20 - color(red)(2)(3x - 2) = 3x`

`20 - (color(red)(2) xx 3x) - (color(red)(2) xx -2) = 3x`

`20 - 6x + 4 = 3x`

`24 - 6x = 3x`

Next, add `color(red)(6x)` to each side of the equation to isolate the `x` term while keeping the equation balanced:

`24 - 6x + color(red)(6x) = 3x + color(red)(6x)`

`24 - 0 = (3 + color(red)(6))x`

`24 = 9x`

Now, divide each side of the equation by `color(red)(9)` to solve for `x` while keeping the equation balanced:

`24/color(red)(9) = (9x)/color(red)(9)`

`(3 xx 8)/color(red)(3 xx 3) = (color(red)(cancel(color(black)(9)))x)/cancel(color(red)(9))`

`(color(red)(cancel(color(black)(3))) xx 8)/color(red)(color(black)(cancel(color(red)(3))) xx 3) = x`

`8/3 = x`

`x = 8/3`