How do you solve #6( w - 3) - 2= - 4( - 2w + 1) - 8w#?

1 Answer
Sep 12, 2017

#w=8/3# or, in decimal form: #w=2.66666 . . . #

Explanation:

First, apply the distributive property to both sides of the equation:

#6(w-3)-2=-4(-2w+1)-8w#

#6w-18-2=8w-4-8w#

Next, on the left side, add #-18# and #-2# to the right, to isolate for #w#

#6w=8w-4-8w+20#

On the right side, the #-8w# and #8w# terms cancel out, leaving us with:

#6w=-4+20#

#6w=16#

After dividing both side by #6#:

#w=16/6#

Simplifying the fraction:

#w=8/3#

You can also write the answer in decimal form as:

#2.66666 . . . #

(Where the #6# repeats forever)