document.write( "Question 86320: Solve. –4x = –8 \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #62457 by bucky(2189) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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Given the equation:
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\n" ); document.write( " $\"-4x+=+-8\"$
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\n" ); document.write( "To solve for x, divide both sides of the given equation by -4, the multiplier of x. When
\n" ); document.write( "you do this is what happens:
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\n" ); document.write( " $\"%28-4%2Ax%29%2F%28-4%29+=+%28-8%29%2F%28-4%29\"$
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\n" ); document.write( "The minus 4 terms in the numerator and the denominator of the left side cancel:
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\n" ); document.write( " $\"%28cross%28-4%29%2Ax%29%2Fcross%28-4%29+=+%28-8%29%2F%28-4%29\"$
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\n" ); document.write( "and on the right side the 4 in the denominator goes into the 8 in the numerator 2 times.
\n" ); document.write( "The 2 is positive because when the numerator and the denominator terms have the same sign
\n" ); document.write( "the rule is that the answer will be positive. This makes the problem become:
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\n" ); document.write( " $\"x+=+2\"$
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\n" ); document.write( "And that's the answer you were looking for. Hope this helps you to understand the method
\n" ); document.write( "of solving an equation by dividing both sides by the multiplier of x (also called the
\n" ); document.write( "\"coefficient of x\".)
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