Question

How do you solve for x in `a(x-2)=b(4-x)`?

Answer 1

We first get rid of the parentheses:

Explanation:

`->ax-2a=4b-bx`

Then all `x`'s to one side by adding `bx` to both sides:
`->ax+bx-2a=4b-cancel(bx)+cancel(bx)`

Then add `2a` to both sides to keep only `x`'s on the left:
`->ax+bx-cancel(2a)+cancel(2a)=2a+4b`

Get the `x`'s together:
`->(a+b)x=2a+4b`

Now divide by `a+b`:
`->x=(2a+4b)/(a+b)or2xx(a+2b)/(a+b)`