SOLUTION: Could someone show me how to solve the below equation step by step - I am doing something wrong and cannot get it to come out correctly where it the solution can verify: 18 - (x

Algebra ->  Equations -> SOLUTION: Could someone show me how to solve the below equation step by step - I am doing something wrong and cannot get it to come out correctly where it the solution can verify: 18 - (x      Log On


   

Question 1163805: Could someone show me how to solve the below equation step by step - I am doing something wrong and cannot get it to come out correctly where it the solution can verify:
18 - (x+3) - 2x = 4 + (x-5)
Thank you in advance
Found 4 solutions by Alan3354, greenestamps, ikleyn, Edwin McCravy:
Answer by Alan3354(69443) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Could someone show me how to solve the below equation step by step - I am doing something wrong and cannot get it to come out correctly where it the solution can verify:
18 - (x+3) - 2x = 4 + (x-5)
====================
How do you know it's wrong?
------
Show what you've tried.
Knowing what you're doing wrong could be important.

Answer by greenestamps(13200) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!


In your earlier post, you went from

18 - (x+3) = ...

to

18 - x + 3 = ...

That is not right.

18 - (x+3) --> 18-x-3 (not 18-x+3)

It's a basic mistake beginning algebra students make....

"18 - (x+3)" means you are subtracting BOTH "x" AND "3"; so the result is 18-x-3.

Answer by ikleyn(52778) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
.

If you want to learn on how to solve simple and simplest linear equations,  read the lesson
    - HOW TO solve a linear equation
in this site.

Consider this lesson as your textbook, handbook, tutorials and (free of charge) home teacher.

Happy learning (!)



Answer by Edwin McCravy(20054) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
The others did not see your earliest post.  This is what you posted
that you had done:

18 - (x+3) - 2x = 4 + (x-5)
18 - x +3 - 2x = 4 + x-5 <---THIS STEP IS WRONG!!!!!)
-x - 2x +18 + 3 = 4 + x-5
-3x +21 = 4 + x-5
-3x - x + 21 - 21 = x - x + 4 -5 -21
4x = -22
x = -5.5
------------------------------------
Your error was in removing parentheses when there is a minus sign preceding
the parentheses.

You changed  - (x+3) to -x+3 when you should have changed it to -x-3.

BOTH SIGNS are changed when removing the parentheses, not just the first
one.

When an expression in parentheses is preceded by a minus or negative sign,
it is the same as if you were distributing -1 into the parentheses.

So when you see -(x+3), consider it to be 

                -1(x+3)

then distribute like this

               (-1)(x)+(-1)(3)

then

                -x + (-3)

and finally

                -x - 3

Now do the problem again, using -x - 3, not what you had.      

Edwin