Question

How do you solve `96=2(-8-8x)`?

Answer 1

See a solution process below:

Explanation:

First, divide each side of the equation by `color(red)(2)` to eliminate the parenthesis while keeping the equation balanced:

`96/color(red)(2) = (2(-8 - 8x))/color(red)(2)`

`48 = (color(red)(cancel(color(black)(2)))(-8 - 8x))/cancel(color(red)(2))`

`48 = -8 - 8x`

Next, divide each side of the equation by `color(red)(-8)` to eliminate the `x` coefficient while keeping the equation balanced:

`48/color(red)(-8) = (-8 - 8x)/color(red)(-8)`

`-6 = (-8)/color(red)(-8) + (-8x)/color(red)(-8)`

`-6 = 1 + (color(red)(cancel(color(black)(-8)))x)/cancel(color(red)(-8))`

`-6 = 1 + x`

Now, subtract `color(red)(1)` from each side of the equation to solve for `x` while keeping the equation balanced:

`-color(red)(1) - 6 = -color(red)(1) + 1 + x`

`-7 = 0 + x`

`-7 = x`

`x = -7`