# How do you solve 17= - 2x - 3+ 7x?

May 16, 2018

Combine like terms, rearrange, and then solve for $x$ to find $x = 4$

#### Explanation:

First, lets combine like terms on the Right-Hand Side (RHS). We have two numbers that are both multiplied by $x$, so we can group them like so:

$17 = - 2 x - 3 + 7 x$

$17 = - 3 + 7 x - 2 x$

$17 = - 3 + x \left(7 - 2\right)$

$17 = - 3 + 5 x$

Next, we'll re-arrange the equation to get $x$ and its coefficient by itself, on the RHS. We'll achieve this by adding 3 to both sides, which will eliminate the -3 on the RHS, and effectively moving it to the Left-Hand Side (LHS):

$17 \textcolor{red}{+ 3} = \cancel{- 3} + 5 x \textcolor{red}{\cancel{+ 3}}$

$20 = 5 x$

Finally, we'll divide both sides by the coefficient that $x$ is multiplied by, which should give us our answer:

$\frac{20}{\textcolor{red}{5}} = \frac{\cancel{5} x}{\textcolor{red}{\cancel{5}}}$

$\textcolor{g r e e n}{x = 4}$

May 16, 2018

$x = 4$

#### Explanation:

$17 = - 2 x - 3 + 7 x$

can also be written as

$17 = 5 x - 3$

To solve this, you want all of the $x$'s on one side of the equation: Therefore, you can add $3$ to both sides to make;

$20 = 5 x$

To get $x$ on its own, you then divide both sides by $5$ to get:

$4 = x$

May 16, 2018

X = 4

#### Explanation:

Given:

$17 = - 2 x - 3 + 7 x$

$17 + 3 = \cancel{3} - \cancel{3} + 5 x$
$20 = 5 x$
$\frac{\cancel{20}}{\cancel{5}} = \frac{\cancel{5}}{\cancel{5}} x$
$\therefore x = \textcolor{red}{4}$