How do you solve #7( 8- 8b ) = - 112#?

1 Answer
Jun 13, 2018

#b = 3#

Explanation:

#7(8-8b) = -112#

First, use the distributive property (shown below) to simplify #7(8-8b)#:
cdn.virtualnerd.com

Following this image, we know that:
#color(blue)(7(8-8b) = (7 * 8) + (7 * -8b) = 56 - 56b)#

Put that back into the equation:
#56 - 56b = -112#

Now subtract #color(blue)(56)# from both sides of the equation:
#56 - 56b quadcolor(blue)(-quad56) = -112 quadcolor(blue)(-quad56)#

#-56b = -168#

Divide both sides by #color(blue)(-56)#:
#(-56b)/color(blue)(-56) = (-168)/color(blue)(-56)#

Therefore,
#b = 3#

Hope this helps!