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Question 86661: Help I can't seem to understan algebra no matter how hard I try. Please help me learn to figure out this problem 5x + 41 = -4
Incorrect
Found 2 solutions by tutorcecilia, bucky:
Answer by tutorcecilia(2152)   (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website! 5x + 41 = -4
5x + 41 - 4= -4 -41 [isolate the x=term]
5x= -45
5x/5= -45/5
x= -9
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Check by plugging (x=90 back into the original equation]
5x + 41 = -4
5(-9) + 41 =-4
-45+41=-4
-4=-4 [checks out]
Answer by bucky(2189)  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website! Given:
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5x + 41 = -4
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The problem asks you to solve for x.
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The first basic rule is whatever you do to one side of this equation (add, subtract,
multiply, divide, square, square root ... and so on), you must also do to the other side
or else you "upset" the balance of the equation.
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The process of solving equations like this one involves four steps ...
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(1) get the term or terms containing the unknown alone on one side of the equal sign.
(2) get all the number terms on the other side of the equal sign
(3) combine the like terms on their sides
(4) divide by the multiplier of x
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Let's apply the process one step at a time:
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First we need to get all the terms containing "x" on one side. Hmmm. There is only one
term containing "x" and it's on the left side. So we're OK there.
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Next we need to get rid of the +41 on the left side so the "x" term is left by itself on
the left side. Do that by subtracting 41 from the left side. But when you do that, don't
forget the rule. If you subtract 41 from the left side, you must also subtract 41 from
the right side. This subtraction is:
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5x + 41 - 41 = -4 - 41
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On the left side the +41 and the -41 cancel each other. As a result, the equation becomes:
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5x = -4 - 41
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On the right side the -4 and the -41 are like terms that combine to give -45. So the equation
is now reduced to:
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5x = -45
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Now you do the last step. You see that 5 times the unknown equals - 45. To find 1 times the
unknown (1x or just x) you divide both sides by the multiplier of x which is 5. Dividing
both sides by 5 (remember the rule ... divide one side by 5 and you must also divide the
other side by 5) and you get:
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5x/5 = -45/5
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and this simplifies to just:
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x = -9
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You can check this answer by going back to the original given equation and substituting
-9 for x to see if the equation balances. The original equation was:
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5x + 41 = -4
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Substitute -9 for x and you get:
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5*(-9) + 41 = - 4
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Do the multiplication 5*(-45) and the equation becomes:
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-45 + 41 = -4
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The terms on the left side (-45 and + 41) combine to give you -4 and this makes the equation:
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-4 = -4
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And since both sides are equal, the equation balances and the answer of x = -9 is correct.
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Hope this helps you with your understanding of how to do equations of this sort.
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