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

1 Answer
Aug 31, 2017

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#