Question

How do you solve `9x + 4( - 3x - 4) = - 14- 5x`?

Answer 1

Always, open the brackets,
`9x+(-12x)+16=-14-5x`
`-3x+5x=-14+16`
`2x=2`
`x=1`

Answer 2

`x=1`

Explanation:

`9x + 4(-3x-4)=-14-5x`
Use the distributive property
`9x + (4)(-3x)+(4)(-4)=-14-5x`
`9x - 12x - 16 =-14-5x`
`-3x - 16=-14-5x`
Add `color(red)(5x)` to both sides
`-3x - 16 + color(red)(5x) = cancel(-5x) - 14 cancelcolor(red)(+5x)`
`2x - 16 = -14`
Add `color(purple)(16)` to both sides
`2x cancel(- 16) cancelcolor(purple)(+16)=-14+color(purple)(16`
`2x = 2`
Divide both sides `color(green)(2)`
`cancel(2x)/cancelcolor(green)(2)=cancel2/cancelcolor(green)(2)`
`x=1`