Question

How do you solve `3(x+8)=12`?

Answer 1

`x = -4`

Explanation:

There are 2 ways to approach this equation:

Using the distributive law,:

`3(x +8) = 12`
`3x + 24 = 12`
`3x = 12-24`
`3x = -12`
`x = (-12)/3`
`x = 4`

Or by isolating the bracket by dividing both sides by 3 first:

`(3(x +8))/3 = 12/3`

`x + 8 = 4`
`x = 4-8`
`x = -4`