Question

How do you solve `-4( 4x - 4) = - 10`?

Answer 1

See a solution process below:

Explanation:

First, expand the terms on the left side of the equation in parenthesis by multiplying each term within the parenthesis by the term outside the parenthesis:

`color(red)(-4)(4x - 4) = -10`

`(color(red)(-4) xx 4x) - (color(red)(-4) xx 4) = -10`

`-16x - (-16) = -10`

`-16x + 16 = -10`

Next, subtract `color(red)(16)` from each side of the equation to isolate the `x` term while keeping the equation balanced:

`-16x + 16 - color(red)(16) = -10 - color(red)(16)`

`-16x + 0 = -26`

`-16x = -26`

Now, divide each side of the equation by `color(red)(-16)` to solve for `x` while keeping the equation balanced:

`(-16x)/color(red)(-16) = -26/color(red)(-16)`

`(color(red)(cancel(color(black)(-16)))x)/cancel(color(red)(-16)) = (-2 xx 13)/color(red)(-2 xx 8)`

`x = (color(red)(cancel(color(black)(-2))) xx 13)/color(red)(color(black)(cancel(color(red)(-2))) xx 8)`

`x = 13/8`