Question

How do you solve `-51- 4x = 5x + 111`?

Answer 1

See a solution process below:

Explanation:

Step 1) Add `color(red)(4x)` and subtract `color(blue)(111)` from each side of the equation to isolate the `x` term while keeping the equation balanced:

`-51 - 4x + color(red)(4x) - color(blue)(111) = 5x + 111 + color(red)(4x) - color(blue)(111)`

`-51 - color(blue)(111) - 4x + color(red)(4x) = 5x + color(red)(4x) + 111 - color(blue)(111)`

`-162 - 0 = (5 + color(red)(4))x + 0`

`-162 = 9x`

Step 2) Divide each side of the equation by `color(red)(9)` to solve for `x` while keeping the equation balanced:

`-162/color(red)(9) = (9x)/color(red)(9)`

`-18 = (color(red)(cancel(color(black)(9)))x)/cancel(color(red)(9))`

`-18 = x`

`x = -18`