How do you simplify # 3x - 6= 8x - 16#?

1 Answer
Sep 26, 2017

See a solution process below:

Explanation:

First, subtract #color(red)(3x)# and add #color(blue)(16)# from each side of the equation to isolate the #x# term while keeping the equation balanced:

#-color(red)(3x) + 3x - 6 + color(blue)(16) = -color(red)(3x) + 8x - 16 + color(blue)(16)#

#0 + 10 = (-color(red)(3) + 8)x - 0#

#10 = 5x#

Now, divide each side of the equation by #color(red)(5)# to solve for #x# while keeping the equation balanced:

#10/color(red)(5) = (5x)/color(red)(5)#

#2 = (color(red)(cancel(color(black)(5)))x)/cancel(color(red)(5))#

#2 = x#

#x = 2#