<PRE><B>Question 1163805</B>
&lt;br&gt;
In your earlier post, you went from&lt;br&gt;
18 - (x+3) = ...&lt;br&gt;
to&lt;br&gt;
18 - x + 3 = ...&lt;br&gt;
That is not right.&lt;br&gt;
18 - (x+3) --&gt; 18-x-3  (not 18-x+3)&lt;br&gt;
It&#39;s a basic mistake beginning algebra students make....&lt;br&gt;
&quot;18 - (x+3)&quot; means you are subtracting BOTH &quot;x&quot; AND &quot;3&quot;; so the result is 18-x-3.&lt;br&gt;
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