How do you solve #-5(5n – 7) – 4 = 56#?

1 Answer
Jul 28, 2015

Expand the paranthesis and isolate #n# on one side of the equation.

Explanation:

Your stating equation is

#-5(5n-7)-4 = 56#

First, use the distributive property of multiplication to get

#-5 * 5n -5 * (-7) - 4 = 56#

#-25n + 35 -4 = 56#

#-25n +31 = 56#

Next, add #-31# to both sides of the equation to get

#-25n + color(red)(cancel(color(black)(31))) - color(red)(cancel(color(black)(31))) = 56 - 31#

#-25n = 25#

Finally, divide both sides of the equation by #-25# to get

#(color(red)(cancel(color(black)(-25))) * n)/color(red)(cancel(color(black)(-25))) = 25/(-25)#

#n = color(green)(-1)#