How do you solve #2x - 8= 1- 4x#?

Question

585 views around the world

You can reuse this answer
Creative Commons License

Answer 1 · 2017-06-04T19:59:57

See a solution process below:

First, add #color(red)(4x)# and #color(blue)(8)# to each side of the equation to isolate the #x# term while keeping the equation balanced:

#2x - 8 + color(red)(4x) + color(blue)(8) = 1 - 4x + color(red)(4x) + color(blue)(8)#

#2x + color(red)(4x) - 8 + color(blue)(8) = 1 + color(blue)(8) - 4x + color(red)(4x)#

#(2 + color(red)(4))x - 0 = 9 - 0#

#6x = 9#

Now, divide each side of the equation by #color(red)(6)# to solve for #x# while keeping the equation balanced:

#(6x)/color(red)(6) = 9/color(red)(6)#

#(color(red)(cancel(color(black)(6)))x)/cancel(color(red)(6)) = (3 xx 3)/color(red)(3 xx 2)#

#x = (color(red)(cancel(color(black)(3))) xx 3)/color(red)(color(black)(cancel(color(red)(3))) xx 2)#

#x = 3/2#