document.write( "Question 1162426: Hi what is 5x + 3 = 7x -1\r
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Algebra.Com's Answer #786226 by math_helper(2461) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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document.write( "5x + 3 = 7x - 1\r
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document.write( "I will show every step, but with practice, you will \"move\" terms from
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document.write( "one side to the other.\r
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document.write( "Subtract 5x from each side:
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document.write( "5x + 3 - 5x  = 7x - 1 - 5x\r
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document.write( "Combine like terms  (on the left 5x-5x = 0x which we just drop completely, on the right 7x-5x = (7-5)x = 2x):
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document.write( "     3       = 2x - 1\r
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document.write( "Add 1 to each side:
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document.write( "     3 + 1   = 2x - 1 + 1
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document.write( "Combine:
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document.write( "         4  = 2x\r
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document.write( "Divide both sides by 2:
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document.write( "         4/2 = 2x/2   (2x/2 = 1x which we write simply as 'x', next line)    \r
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document.write( "Simplify:
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document.write( "            2 = x    --->  Ans: x = 2\r
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document.write( "----------
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document.write( "With experience, you would either do the whole thing in your head or you might do one or two steps:
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document.write( "          5x + 3 = 7x - 1
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document.write( "               4 = 2x    (added 1 to both sides, also subtracted 5x from both sides)
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document.write( "               2 = x      (divided both sides by 2)\r
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document.write( "Solving for x/isolating x is based on this simple principle:  if there is an equation, then doing the same valid operation to both sides does not affect that equality. 
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