# How do you solve 124=4(1-5x) using the distributive property?

May 27, 2017

See a solution process below:

#### Explanation:

Fixed expand the term in parenthesis on the right side of the equation by distributing the term outside the parenthesis across the two terms within the parenthesis:

$124 = \textcolor{red}{4} \left(1 - 5 x\right)$

$124 = \left(\textcolor{red}{4} \times 1\right) - \left(\textcolor{red}{4} \times 5 x\right)$

$124 = 4 - 20 x$

Next, subtract $\textcolor{red}{4}$ from each side of the equation to isolate the $x$ term while keeping the equation balanced:

$- \textcolor{red}{4} + 124 = - \textcolor{red}{4} + 4 - 20 x$

$120 = 0 - 20 x$

$120 = - 20 x$

Now, divide each side of the equation by $\textcolor{red}{- 20}$ to solve for $x$ while keeping the equation balanced:

$\frac{120}{\textcolor{red}{- 20}} = \frac{- 20 x}{\textcolor{red}{- 20}}$

$- 6 = \frac{\textcolor{red}{\cancel{\textcolor{b l a c k}{- 20}}} x}{\cancel{\textcolor{red}{- 20}}}$

$- 6 = x$

$x = - 6$