Question 943678
Anne solved 5(2x)- 3 = 20x + 15 for x by first distributing 5 on the left side of the equation. She got the answer x = -3. However, when she substituted -3 into the original situation for x, she saw that her answer was wrong. What did Anne do wrong, and what is the correct way?
<pre><font face = "Tohoma" size = 4 color = "indigo"><b>She seemed to have distributed the 5 on the entire left side of the equation instead of only distributing
the 5 to the 2x. This is what she might've done:
5(2x - 3) = 20x + 15
10x - 15 = 20x + 15
10x - 20x = 15 + 15
- 10x = 30
{{{x = 30/(- 10)}}}, or {{{x = - 3}}}

<u>Correct solution, since she was wrong, as well as the person who responded:</u>
5(2x) - 3 = 20x + 15
10x - 3 = 20x + 15
10x - 20x = 15 + 3
- 10x = 18
{{{x = 18/(- 10)}}}, or {{{x = 9/(- 5)}}}, or {{{highlight_green(x = - 1.8)}}}       
You can do the check!! 
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</font face = "Tohoma" size = 4 color = "indigo"></b>Send comments, “thank-yous,” and inquiries to “D” at MathMadEzy@aol.com.
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