Question

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

Answer 1

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 = color(red)(4)(1 - 5x)`

`124 = (color(red)(4) xx 1) - (color(red)(4) xx 5x)`

`124 = 4 - 20x`

Next, subtract `color(red)(4)` from each side of the equation to isolate the `x` term while keeping the equation balanced:

`-color(red)(4) + 124 = -color(red)(4) + 4 - 20x`

`120 = 0 - 20x`

`120 = -20x`

Now, divide each side of the equation by `color(red)(-20)` to solve for `x` while keeping the equation balanced:

`120/color(red)(-20) = (-20x)/color(red)(-20)`

`-6 = (color(red)(cancel(color(black)(-20)))x)/cancel(color(red)(-20))`

`-6 = x`

`x = -6`