Question

How do you simplify `3x - 6= 8x - 16`?

Answer 1

See a solution process below:

Explanation:

First, subtract `color(red)(3x)` and add `color(blue)(16)` from each side of the equation to isolate the `x` term while keeping the equation balanced:

`-color(red)(3x) + 3x - 6 + color(blue)(16) = -color(red)(3x) + 8x - 16 + color(blue)(16)`

`0 + 10 = (-color(red)(3) + 8)x - 0`

`10 = 5x`

Now, divide each side of the equation by `color(red)(5)` to solve for `x` while keeping the equation balanced:

`10/color(red)(5) = (5x)/color(red)(5)`

`2 = (color(red)(cancel(color(black)(5)))x)/cancel(color(red)(5))`

`2 = x`

`x = 2`