Question 52750


<pre>9=13x-7-5x what does x equal show work thanks!
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          9 = 13x - 7 - 5x

First combine the like terms on the right which are
13x and -5x.  That gives you 8x. So you take out those 
two terms and put in the one term "8x". So now you 
have this:

          9 = 8x - 7 

Since you want to get the x-term, 8x, all by itself
we get rid of the -7 term on the right by adding its
opposite, +7, to both sides

          9 = 8x - 7
         +7       +7
        -------------
         16 = 8x

When we get to this stage, where there is only one 
term on one side consisting of a coefficient and the
unknown, then you divide both sides by that 
coefficient, which is 8.
 
         16     8x
        ---- = ----
          8      8

the 8 goes into the 16 2 times on left, and the 8's
cancel on the right:

          2     1
         <s>16</s>     <s>8</s>x
        ---- = ----
          <s>8</s>      <s>8</s>
          1      1

so the answer is:

           2 = x

Edwin</pre>