Question

How do you solve `3(-2 - 3x) = -9x - 4`?

Answer 1

NO SOLUTION or `cancel(0)`

Explanation:

First, use the distributive property shown below to simplify `3(-2-3x)`:

Following this image, we can expand it:
`color(blue)(3(-2-3x) = (3 * -2) + (3 * -3x) = -6 - 9x)`

Put it back into the equation:
`-6-9x = -9x - 4`

Add `color(blue)(9x)` to both sides of the equation:
`-6 - 9x quadcolor(blue)(+quad9x) = -9x quadcolor(blue)(+quad9x) - 4`

`-6 = -4`

However, now we have no more variables!

Now we have to see whether the left hand side equals to the left hand side. `-6` does NOT equal to `-4`, therefore, the answer is NO SOLUTION or `cancel(0)`.

Hope this helps!