How do you solve #2x - 4= - 4x - 4+ 6x#?

2 Answers
Jul 29, 2017

It's important to realize there's multiple ways to solve problems like these, but I will do what I believe is the most straightforward way.

Explanation:

First, look for any like terms we can combine. On the right hand side, we have a -4x and a 6x. We can add these to get 2x.

New equation: 2x-4= 2x-4

Notice both sides of the equation are exactly the same. We can add 4 to both sides, which will cancel out both -4s and leave us with 2x=2x.

The only other thing we can really do to the equation 2x=2x is divide both sides by 2, which would result in x=x. A solution of this means than x can take on any value and still satisfy the original equation.

Extra: When you arrive at a one-variable equation such as 2x=2x, where both sides of the equation are the same, this is a clue that x can take on any value, because both sides of the equation will always simplify to the same thing respectively.

Jul 29, 2017

0

Explanation:

#2x - 4 = -4x - 4 + 6x#

Collect like terms from the R.H.S

#2x - 4 = (-4x + 6x) - 4#

#2x - 4 = 2x - 4#

Collect like terms on both sides..

#2x - 2x = - 4 + 4#

#0 = 0#