Place a 1 between the first negative sign and
the parenthesis that follows it:
Use the distributive principle to remove the
parentheses:
Combine like terms:
Add 3x to both sides:
That is a FALSE numerical equation
(all variables cancelled out). When
this occurs there is no solution. So
you write "solution set = Ø"
Such an equation is called a
"contradiction". NO number substituted
for x will make it true. NO NUMBER
is a solution.
-------------------------
Use the distributive principle to remove
the parentheses:
Combine like terms:
Add 3x to both sides:
That is a TRUE numerical equation
(all variables cancelled out). When
this occurs the solution set is
"all real numbers". So
you write "solution set = R"
Such an equation is called an "identity".
EVERY number substituted for x will make it
true. EVERY number is a solution.
Edwin
