How do you solve #-7x - 7= - 3x - 15#?

1 Answer
Mar 31, 2018

#x=2#

Explanation:

#"collect terms in x on the left side and numeric values"#
#"on the right side"#

#"add 3x to both sides"#

#-7x+3x-7=cancel(-3x)cancel(+3x)-15#

#rArr-4x-7=-15#

#"add 7 to both sides"#

#-4xcancel(-7)cancel(+7)=-15+7#

#rArr-4x=-8#

#"divide both sides by "-4#

#(cancel(-4) x)/cancel(-4)=(-8)/(-4)#

#rArrx=2#

#color(blue)"As a check"#

Substitute this value into the equation and if both sides are equal then it is the solution.

#"left "=-14-7=-21#

#"right "=-6-15=-21#

#rArrx=2" is the solution"#