Question

How do you solve `-( x - 5) = 3x - 15`?

Answer 1

See the entire solution process below:

Explanation:

First remove the terms on the left hand side of the equation from the parenthesis. Be careful to handle the signs of the individual terms correctly:

`-x + 5 = 3x - 15`

Next, add `color(red)(x)` and `color(blue)(15)` to each side of the equation to isolate the `x` term while keeping the equation balanced:

`color(red)(x) - x + 5 + color(blue)(15) = color(red)(x) + 3x - 15 + color(blue)(15)`

`0 + 20 = color(red)(1x) + 3x - 0`

`20 = (color(red)(1) + 3)x`

`20 = 4x`

Now, divide each side of the equation by `color(red)(4)` to solve for `x` while keeping the equation balanced:

`20/color(red)(4) = (4x)/color(red)(4)`

`5 = (color(red)(cancel(color(black)(4)))x)/cancel(color(red)(4))`

`5 = x`

`x = 5`