Question 69590
2(x+5)-x-4=7

First do the distributive multiplication by multiplying the two terms in the parentheses by the leading 2.  This results in:

2x + 10 - x - 4 = 7

Next combine the 2x with the -x to get just x.  When you do the equation becomes:

x + 10 - 4 = 7

Then combine the +10 and the -4 to get +6 which makes the equation:

x + 6 = 7

Then subtract 6 from both sides so that it no longer appears on the left side:

x = +1

That is the answer.  Check it by substituting +1 for x in the original problem to get:

2(1+5) - 1 - 4 = 7

Add the numbers in parentheses to get:

2(6) - 1 - 4 = 7

12 - 1 - 4 = 7

11 - 4 = 7

7 = 7

Since this is a true statement, the answer x = 1 is correct.