How do you solve #.2( n - 6) = 2.8#?

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Answer 1 · 2016-12-26T13:56:07

#n = 20#

First, to expand the terms in parenthesis we need to multiple each term in parenthesis by #color(red)(.2)#:

#color(red)(.2)n - (color(red)(.2) * 6) = 2.8#

#.2n - 1.2 = 2.8#

Next, we can add #color(blue)(1.2)# to each side of the equation to isolate the #n# term and keep the equation balanced:

#.2n - 1.2 + color(blue)(1.2) = 2.8 + color(blue)(1.2)#

#.2n - 0 = 4.0#

#.2n = 4.0#

Now, we can divide each side of the equation by #color(green)(.2)# to solve for #n# while keeping the equation balanced:

#(.2n)/color(green)(.2) = 4.0/color(green)(.2)#

#(color(green)(cancel(color(black)(.2)))n)/cancel(color(green)(.2)) = 20#

#n = 20#