document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=167310>Question 167310</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> how do you find \"x\" in a equation like\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "2x-3=5x+12\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "??? </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #123224 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=gonzo><B>gonzo(654)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-11.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=gonzo><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/nopicture.jpg><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=123224\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> you want to get all your x's on the same side of the equation.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "you do this by any of the following:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "1.  add or subtract the same value to both sides of the equation.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "2.  multiply or divide each side of the equation by the same value.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "3.  raise both sides of the equation by the same power.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "all of these operations, if done properly, do not change the value of the equation.<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "in your problem, you start off with:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "2x-3 = 5x + 12<BR>\n" );
document.write( "you want to move all your x's to the left side of the equation or the right side of the equation.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "let's try the right.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "you subtract 2x from both sides of the equation.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "2x - 3 - 2x = 5x - 2x + 12.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "when you combine like terms, the 2x on the left side of the equation cancels out.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "combining like terms, you get:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "-3 = 3x + 12.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "now you want to move the 12 from the right side of the equation to the left side.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "you do this by subtracting 12 from both sides of the equation.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "-3 - 12 = 3x + 12 - 12.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "when you combine like terms, the 12 on the right side of the equation cancels out.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "combine like terms, you get:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "-15 = 3x<BR>\n" );
document.write( "now you need to divide both sides of the equation by 3.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "-15 / 3 = 3x / 3<BR>\n" );
document.write( "completing the operation, you get:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "-5 = x<BR>\n" );
document.write( "this is the same as:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x = -5<BR>\n" );
document.write( "that should be your answer.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "substituting -5 for x in your original equation gets:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "2x-3=5x+12<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(2*-5) - 3 = (5*-5) + 12<BR>\n" );
document.write( "-10 - 3 = -25 + 12<BR>\n" );
document.write( "-13 = -13<BR>\n" );
document.write( "since the 2 sides of the equatin are equal, the value of x = -5 is true.<BR>\n" );
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