document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=230754>Question 230754</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Combine like terms to obtain an equivalent equation of the form ax = b.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "18x - 9 + 2x = 13x - 4 </SPAN>\n" );
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document.write( "Let's first get -9 on the right side of the equal sign by adding 9 to both sides. That gives us 18x + 2x = 13x +5\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Now, let's get 13x on the left side of the equal side by subtracting both sides. <BR>\n" );
document.write( "It'll then look like this:<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "               18x + 2x - 13x = 5<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Combine the terms: \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "                7x = 5<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Ther you go. It's now in the form asked form ax=b </SPAN>\n" );
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