SOLUTION: How can you tell where to start when solving an equation....and also for example 7-4x=2x-3 If I want to get rid of the the 2x for example how do I know whether to divide bacause o

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Question 648707: How can you tell where to start when solving an equation....and also for example 7-4x=2x-3
If I want to get rid of the the 2x for example how do I know whether to divide bacause of the peony mural being multiplied next to it or subtract because of the invisible addition in front of the 2...and when doin the same thing to the other side being the 4...do I plus it from -4 or just 4 and leVe the subtraction sign?? THANKK you
Answer by stanbon(75887) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
How can you tell where to start when solving an equation....and also for example 7-4x=2x-3
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Your objective is to isolate the "x".
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If you divide by 2x you have to divide every term by 2x.
As a result you will not "get rid of it".
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If you subtract 2x from both sides of the equation you
will have all the x-terms on the left side. That is a
good step toward isolating the "x".
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So, 7-4x-2x = 2x-3-2x
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7 -6x = -3
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Now, subtract 7 from both sides to get:
7 -6x -7 = -3-7
-6x = -10
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Now divide both sides by -6 to get:
x = (-10/-6)
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x = 5/3
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Cheers,
Stan H.
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