Question 516610
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Use parentheses:  a - 8 = (2a + 5)/2  means *[tex \Large a\ -\ 8\ =\ \frac{2a\ +\ 5}{2}]


Multiply both sides by 2:


*[tex \LARGE \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ 2(a\ -\ 8)\ =\ 2a\ +\ 5]


Use the distributive property to remove the parentheses:


*[tex \LARGE \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ 2a\ -\ 16\ =\ 2a\ +\ 5]


Add -2a to both sides:


*[tex \LARGE \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ -16\ =\ 5]


Which is absurd.  Therefore the solution set of the given equation is the empty set.  That is to say there are no real numbers that when substituted for *[tex \Large a] in the given equation will make the equation a true statement.


John
*[tex \LARGE e^{i\pi} + 1 = 0]
My calculator said it, I believe it, that settles it
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