Question

How do you solve `3x+4=5x+2`?

Answer 1

Subtract `3x+2` from both sides, then divide by `2` to find `x=1`

Explanation:

Isolate `x` on one side of the equation, by subtracting `3x+2` from both sides to get:

`2 = 2x`

(Since `3x+4-(3x+2) = 3x-3x+4-2=2` and `5x+2-(3x+2) = 5x-3x+2-2 = 2x`)

Then divide both sides by `2` to get `1 = x`. That is `x = 1`.

Alternatively, just notice that `3+4 = 7 = 5 + 2`, so `x=1` will work.

Answer 2

• Get variables on one side, and constants on the other side
  `x = 1`

Explanation:

`3x + 4 = 5x + 2`

Subtract 5x from both sides so you remove the variable on the right:
`3x - 5x + 4 = 5x - 5x + 2`

Add variables together:
`-2x + 4 = 2`

Subtract 4 from both sides so you remove the constant on the left:
`-2x + 4 - 4= 2 -4`

Add constants together:
`-2x = -2`

To only get one `x`, divide both sides by `-2`:
`(-2x)/-2 = (-2)/-2 to (cancel(-2)x)/(cancel(-2)) = (cancel(-2))/(cancel(-2)) to x = 1`