document.write( "Question 15994: I'm getting confused in the first step of equations with variables on both sides. For example: 7c- 4=9c- 11 I know that you put the variables together but I don't know when to add , subtract, multiply or divide. Then if I do get help on it and get to the next step I'm getting confuse so please help me understand how to do these. Thanks,Kristen \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #7862 by elima(1433)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
7c- 4=9c- 11
\n" ); document.write( "You are not alone with this. Many of my students are very confused when it comes to the negatives and positives.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "In this example you would subtract 9c from both sides because it is a positive 9.
\n" ); document.write( "Lets say the problem was:
\n" ); document.write( "7c-4=11-9c
\n" ); document.write( "Then you would add 9c to both sides because it is a negative 9c.
\n" ); document.write( "Lets get back to the original problem;
\n" ); document.write( "7c-4=9c-11
\n" ); document.write( "First subtract both sides by 9c;
\n" ); document.write( "7c-4-9c=9c-11-9c
\n" ); document.write( "when doing that it cancels out the 9c on the right side and puts it on the left with the 7c.
\n" ); document.write( "Now you have 7c-4-9c=11
\n" ); document.write( "You can add sibtract the 7c and 9c since they are like terms;
\n" ); document.write( "-2c-4=11
\n" ); document.write( "Now we are going to add 4 to both sides since it is a -4 in the original problem;
\n" ); document.write( "-2c-4+4=-11+4
\n" ); document.write( "That cancels out the 4 on the right side and puts it with the 11;
\n" ); document.write( "Now the equation is;
\n" ); document.write( "-2c=-11+4
\n" ); document.write( "We add -11+4;
\n" ); document.write( "-2c=-7
\n" ); document.write( "Now we will divide both sides by -2 since it is being multiplied by the c;
\n" ); document.write( "\"-2c%2F-2\"=\"-7%2F-2\"
\n" ); document.write( "c=3.5
\n" ); document.write( "I hope this helps some!
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