Question

How do you solve `2x + 31= - 7( 1- 3x )`?

Answer 1

`x=2`

Explanation:

You are given: `2x+31=-7(1-3x)`

Use the distributive property to distribute the `-7` to `(1-3x)`. The equation should end up looking like this:

`2x+31=-7(1-3x)`
`2x+31=(-7)(1)-(-7)(3x)`
`2x+31=-7+21x`

Next, you want to get all of the variables `(x)` on one side of the equation, and all of the number part on the other side. First subtract `-7` from both sides; then subtract `2x` from both sides.

`2x+31=-7+21x`
`2x-(2x)+31-(-7)=-7-(-7)+21x-(2x)`
`cancel(2x-(2x))+31-(-7)=cancel(-7-(-7))+21x-(2x)`

After simplifying, you should be left with:
`38=19x`

Divide both sides by `19` to get `x` by itself.
`38/19=(19x)/19`
`2=x`