document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=638056>Question 638056</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> 5(x-4)-1=-7x+3 what does x equal? </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #402000 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=josh_jordan><B>josh_jordan(263)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-09.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=josh_jordan><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/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=josh_jordan><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=402000\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> To solve this equation, use the distributive property to multiply 5 by (x-4):\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "5(x-4) = 5x - 20\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "You will then have:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "5x - 20 - 1 = -7x + 3\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Combine -20 and -1 by adding:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "5x - 21 = -7x + 3\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Now, you want to get x all by itself, so to do that, subtract 5x from both sides of the equal sign:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "-5x + 5x - 21 = -7x - 5x + 3\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Combine like terms on both sides:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "-21 = -12x + 3\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "We still want to get x all by itself, so we will subtract 3 to both sides of our equation:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "-3 - 21 = -12x + 3 - 3\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Combine like terms:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "-24 = -12x\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "To get the x by itself once and for all, divide both sides of the equation by -12:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "-24/-12 = -12x / -12\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "2 = x\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "So, x = 2\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "To check this answer, just substitute 2 for x in your equation:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "5(2-4)-1=-7(2)+3\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "5(-2)-1=-14+3\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "-10 - 1 = -11\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "-11 = -11\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Since both sides of the equal sign are the same, x = 2 works, and is our final answer\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( " </SPAN>\n" );
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