document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=30117>Question 30117</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> 5a+3= 31-2a   can you help? </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #16884 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=sdmmadam@yahoo.com><B>sdmmadam@yahoo.com(530)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-10.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=sdmmadam@yahoo.com><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=16884\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> 5a+3= 31-2a   ----(1)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "That is 5a+2a = 31-3  (adding 2a to both the sides and subtracting 3 from both the sides, or grouping like terms changing sign while changing side)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "7a = 28<BR>\n" );
document.write( "a = 28/7 = 4<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Answer: a = 4<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Verification: Putting a = 4 in (1)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "LHS = 5a + 3 = 20+3 = 23<BR>\n" );
document.write( "RHS = 31-2a = 31-8 = 23 = LHS<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Therefore our value is correct. </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );