Question

How do you solve `-102= 6( - 3x - 2)`?

Answer 1

See a solution process below:

Explanation:

Step 1) Divide each side of the equation by `color(red)(6)` to eliminate the parenthesis while keeping the equation balanced:

`-102/color(red)(6) = (6(-3x - 2))/color(red)(6)`

`-17 = (color(red)(cancel(color(black)(6)))(-3x - 2))/cancel(color(red)(6))`

`-17 = -3x - 2`

Step 2) Add `color(red)(2)` to each side of the equation to isolate the `x` term while keeping the equation balanced:

`-17 + color(red)(2) = -3x - 2 + color(red)(2)`

`-15 = -3x - 0`

`-15 = -3x`

Step 3) Divide each side of the equation by `color(red)(-3)` to solve for `x` while keeping the equation balanced:

`(-15)/color(red)(-3) = (-3x)/color(red)(-3)`

`5 = (color(red)(cancel(color(black)(-3)))x)/cancel(color(red)(-3))`

`5 = x`

`x = 5`