Question

How do you solve `4( 4u - 4) = - 3[ - 3u - 5( u + 8) ]`?

Answer 1

Use the distributive property, then solve for `u`.

Explanation:

The distributive property states that `a(b+c)=a*b+a*c`. Using this, we can simplify and solve our equation. Let's look at the left side of our equation first:

`4(4u-4)=4*4u+4*-4=16u-16`

Next, let's tackle the right side. This is a bit trickier as it will take multiple steps to simplify. First, let's simplify the brackets:

`-5(u+8)=-5*u+ -5*8=-5u-40`
`-3u-5u+40=-8u+40`

Now, let's get rid of the brackets, shall we?

`-3[-8u+40]=-3*-8u+ -3*40=24u-120`

Our full equation now looks like this:

`16u-16=-24u-120`

Let's now add 16 to each side, then add 120 to each side:

`16u-16+16=24u-120+16`
`16u=24u-104`
`16u+24u=-24u-104+24u`
`40u=-104`
`u=-2.6`