Question

How do you solve `-14- 7x = 1+ 8x`?

Answer 1

See a solution process below:

Explanation:

Step 1) Add `color(red)(7x)` and subtract `color(blue)(1)` from each side of the equation to isolate the `x` term while keeping the equation balanced:

`-color(blue)(1) - 14 - 7x + color(red)(7x) = -color(blue)(1) + 1 + 8x + color(red)(7x)`

`-15 - 0 = 0 + (8 + color(red)(7))x`

`-15 = 15x`

Step 2) Divide each side of the equation by `color(red)(15)` to solve for `x` while keeping the equation balanced:

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

`-1 = (color(red)(cancel(color(black)(15)))x)/cancel(color(red)(15))`

`-1 = x`

`x = -1`