How do you solve #3x + 8 = 5x – 20#?

1 Answer
Aug 1, 2015

By performing the same basic arithmetic operations on both sides of the given equation we can isolate #x# on one side and a constant on the other to get:#color(white)("XXXX")##x=14#

Explanation:

Given #3x+8 = 5x-20#

We can get rid of the #x# term on the right side by subtracting #5x# from both sides:
#color(white)("XXXX")##-2x+8 = -20#

Now by subtracting #8# from both sides we can isolate the constant term(s) to the left side
#color(white)("XXXX")##-2x=-28#

Finally by dividing both sides by #(-2)# we can reduce the equation to one with only a simple #x# on the left side
#color(white)("XXXX")##x = 14#