Question 310343
{{{ax = b - x}}}
You must do the same thing to both sides of the equation.
As long as you do that, you can't go wrong
First, add {{{x}}} to both sides
{{{ax + x = b - x + x}}}
{{{ax + x = b}}}
{{{x}}} is in both terms on the left, so bring it out as a common factor
{{{x*(a + 1) = b}}}
Now divide both sides by {{{a + 1}}}
{{{x = b/(a + 1)}}}
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You can check this by substituting any numbers for {{{a}}} and {{{b}}}
{{{a = 7}}}
{{{b = 13}}}
so
{{{7x = 13 - x}}}
{{{8x = 13}}}
{{{x = 13/8}}}
Now do the same substitutions in the answer:
{{{x = 13/(7+1)}}}
{{{x = 13/8}}}
OK