Question

3x+5=-16 how do you solve ?

Answer 1

Solving for x gives us `-7`

Explanation:

To solve for `x`, you need to subtract 5 from both sides which gives us

`3x=-21`

Then you divide both sides by `3` which gives us `x=-7`

But, you should double check to see if `-7` works in when plugging it into the equation or otherwise you did something wrong.

`3(-7)+5=-16`

`-21+5=-16`

Distributed the `-7` to the `3` then added `-21` to `5`

Answer 2

`x = -7`

Explanation:

`3x + 5 = -16`

Subtracting `5` from both sides;

`3x + 5 - 5 =-16 -5`

`3x + 0= -16 -5`

`3x = -21`

Dividing both sides by the coefficient of `x`

`(3x)/3 = (-21)/3`

`(cancel3x)/cancel3 = (-21)/3`

`x = (-21)/3`

`x = -7`