Question

How do you solve `-9=(-4+m)/2`?

Answer 1

`m = -14`

Explanation:

First, multiply each side of the equation by `2` to eliminate the fraction and to keep the equation balanced. Eliminating the fraction will make the problem easier to work with:

`color(red)(2) xx -9 = color(red)(2) xx (-4 + m)/2`

`-18 = color(red)(cancel(color(black)(2))) xx (-4 + m)/color(red)(cancel(color(black)(2)))`

`-18 = -4 + m`

Now, we can isolate the `m` term and solve for `m`:

`-18 + color(red)(4) = -4 + m + color(red)(4)`

`-14 = -4 + 4 + m`

`-14 = 0 + m`

`-14 = m`

Answer 2

`m= -14`

Explanation:

Given
`color(white)("XXX")-9=(-4+m)/2`

If we multiply both sides by `2` we can get rid of the fraction on the right side:
`color(white)("XXX")-9color(blue)(xx2) =(-4+m)/cancel(2)color(blue)(xxcancel(2))`

`color(white)("XXX")-18=-4+m`

Now adding `4` to both sides will isolate the constant on one side and the variable on the other side:
`color(white)("XXX")-18color(red)( + 4) =cancel(-4)+mcolor(red)(+cancel(4))`

`color(white)("XXX")-14=m`

or (in the more common order)
`color(white)("XXX")m= -14`