Question

The graph of the equation `2x+ 6y =4` passes through point (x,-2). What is the value of x?

Answer 1

`x = 8`

Explanation:

To solve this problem we substitute `color(red)(-2)` for `color(red)(y)` in the equation and solve for `x`:

`2x + 6color(red)(y) = 4`

Becomes:

`2x + (6 xx color(red)(-2)) = 4`

`2x + (-12) = 4`

`2x - 12 = 4`

Next we can add `color(red)(12)` to each side of the equation to isolate the `x` term while keeping the equation balanced:

`2x - 12 + color(red)(12) = 4 + color(red)(12)`

`2x - 0 = 16`

`2x = 16`

Now, we divide each side of the equation by `color(red)(2)` to solve for `x` while keeping the equation balanced:

`(2x)/color(red)(2) = 16/color(red)(2)`

`(color(red)cancel(color(black)(2))x)/cancel(color(red)(2)) = 8`

`x = 8`