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| Question 638056:  5(x-4)-1=-7x+3 what does x equal?
 Found 2 solutions by  solver91311, josh_jordan:
 Answer by solver91311(24713)
      (Show Source): Answer by josh_jordan(263)
      (Show Source): 
You can put this solution on YOUR website! To solve this equation, use the distributive property to multiply 5 by (x-4): 5(x-4) = 5x - 20
 You will then have:
 5x - 20 - 1 = -7x + 3
 Combine -20 and -1 by adding:
 5x - 21 = -7x + 3
 Now, you want to get x all by itself, so to do that, subtract 5x from both sides of the equal sign:
 -5x + 5x - 21 = -7x - 5x + 3
 Combine like terms on both sides:
 -21 = -12x + 3
 We still want to get x all by itself, so we will subtract 3 to both sides of our equation:
 -3 - 21 = -12x + 3 - 3
 Combine like terms:
 -24 = -12x
 To get the x by itself once and for all, divide both sides of the equation by -12:
 -24/-12 = -12x / -12
 2 = x
 So, x = 2
 To check this answer, just substitute 2 for x in your equation:
 5(2-4)-1=-7(2)+3
 5(-2)-1=-14+3
 -10 - 1 = -11
 -11 = -11
 Since both sides of the equal sign are the same, x = 2 works, and is our final answer
 
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