How do you solve $-5( - 3x - 4) = - 6x - 2$ ?

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Answer 1 · 2017-04-12T21:40:06

See the entire solution process below:

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

$color(red)(-5)(-3x - 4) = -6x - 2$

$(color(red)(-5) xx -3x) + (color(red)(-5) xx -4) = -6x - 2$

$15x + 20 = -6x - 2$

Next, subtract $color(red)(20)$ and add $color(blue)(6x)$ to each side of the equation to isolate the $x$ term while keeping the equation balanced:

$color(blue)(6x) + 15x + 20 - color(red)(20) = color(blue)(6x) - 6x - 2 - color(red)(20)$

$(color(blue)(6) + 15)x + 0 = 0 - 22$

$21x = -22$

Now, divide each side of the equation by $color(red)(21)$ to solve for $x$ while keeping the equation balanced:

$(21x)/color(red)(21) = -22/color(red)(21)$

$(color(red)(cancel(color(black)(21)))x)/cancel(color(red)(21)) = -22/21$

$x = -22/21$

How do you solve -5( - 3x - 4) = - 6x - 2-5( - 3x - 4) = - 6x - 2?