Question

How do you solve `36= 4( x + 9)`?

Answer 1

`x=0`

Explanation:

`4(x+9) = 36`

Our aim here is to isolate the variable `x`.
If we distribute 4 across the bracket we will get `4x`, which is worse than the `x` in the bracket as it is.

Divide both sides by 4.

`(4(x+9))/4 = 36/4`

`x+9 = 9" "larr` subtract 9 from each side.

`x = 9-9`

`x =0`

Many students are concerned if they get `x=0` as a solution.

This is an acceptable answer. 0 is a number like any other, it just has special properties.