How do you solve #5(a-1)-15=3(a+2)+4#?

1 Answer
Mar 3, 2018

#a=15#

Explanation:

First, use the distributive property on the parentheses and combine like terms
#5(a-1)-15=3(a+2)+4#
#5a-5-15=3a+6+4#
#5a-20=3a+10#

Then, subtract 3a from both sides
#2a-20=10#

Finally, solve for a
#2a-20=10#
#a=15#

Now that we know what a is, we can substitute for a in the original equation
#5(15-1)-15=3(15+2)+4#
#75-5-15=45+6+4#
#55=55# (correct)

We can now conclude that a is equal to 15