How do you solve $-5+w/3=-1$ ?

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Answer 1 · 2016-12-28T22:49:26

$w = 12$

First, add $color(red)(5)$ to each side of the equation to isolate the $w$ term while keeping the equation balanced:

$color(red)(5) - 5 + w/3 = color(red)(5) - 1$

$0 + w/3 = 4$

$w/3 = 4$

Now, multiply each side of the equation by $color(red)(3)$ to solve for $w$ while keeping the equation balanced:

$color(red)(3) * w/3 = color(red)(3) * 4$

$cancel(color(red)(3)) * w/color(red)(cancel(color(black)(3))) = 12$

$w = 12$

How do you solve -5+w/3=-1-5+w/3=-1?