Question

How do you solve `-8( x + 2) = 6x - 30`?

Answer 1

See a solution process below:

Explanation:

First, expand the terms in parenthesis by multiplying each term within the parenthesis by the term outside the parenthesis:

`color(red)(-8)(x + 2) = 6x - 30`

`(color(red)(-8) xx x) + (color(red)(-8) xx 2) = 6x - 30`

`-8x + (-16) = 6x - 30`

`-8x - 16 = 6x - 30`

Next, add `color(red)(8x)` and `color(red)(30)` to each side of the equation to isolate the `x` term while keeping the equation balanced:

`color(red)(8x) - 8x - 16 + color(red)(30) = color(red)(8x) + 6x - 30 + color(red)(30)`

`0 + 14 = (color(red)(8) + 6)x - 0`

`14 = 14x`

Now, divide each side of the equation by `color(red)(14)` to solve for `x` while keeping the equation balanced:

`14/color(red)(14) = (14x)/color(red)(14)`

`1 = (color(red)(cancel(color(black)(14)))x)/cancel(color(red)(14))`

`1 = x`

`x = 1`