Question

Change the word statement into a equation. Use x as the variable. twice a number is equal to five more than four times a number.
Complete the corresponding equation underneath the word statement.

Twice a number is equal to five more than four times a number

Answer 1

If x is a variable, what is twice that?

Answer 2

2

Answer 3

Im confuse with Math

Answer 4

Can you break it down for me too better understand you

Answer 5

It's ok to be confused, we'll try to get you out of that confused state. "2" is not exactly right because it does not reflect anything to do with the x. Stated another way: If you have "one football" and you get an additional football, what do you have? The answer has to have the word "football" in it. Same with "x". If you have "one x" and you get another "x", what do you have? The answer HAS to have "x" included in it.

Answer 6

2x

Answer 7

Excellent! Believe it or not, that IS real progress. A lot of people have a stumbling block with that. And further "2x" is understood as 2 times x. And that IS important. So, we'll proceed. I'm going to fast forward, but just a little bit. We have "2x = something" because that's how the problem reads. "Five more than 4 times a number" is "5 + 4x". Dose this make sense so far? Stop me at any time, because it is important to get these concepts down right.

Answer 8

so 2x= 5+4x

Answer 9

it makes since. Im catching on with it .

Answer 10

keep going.

Answer 11

Very very good. Next step is to realize that we have 1 term on the left of the "=" and 2 terms on the right. We can add or subtract equal numbers to BOTH sides at the same time to preserve the equality. And we want to do that because we want to get the x's together on one side .

Answer 12

ok. Im confuse right here lol

Answer 13

2x=5+4x

Answer 14

Usually, by convention, the variables are most often seen on the left side. We want to get the 4x out of the right and over to the left. No problem on the confusion bit, Here is where a lot of people get a little confused, so we'll take it slow at first. 2x is a term, like a "package" because it can be separated by addition or subtraction. "5" is a term. And so is "4x". First, recognize what are "terms".

Answer 15

5+4x=2x is this right way

Answer 16

What you just did is not wrong, but it doesn't do too much just yet. Let's look at the right side to see what is meant by "separated" first. On the right (of 2x = 5 + 4x) we have 5 as a term and 4x as a term. They are separated from each other by either addition or subtraction. Two terms on the right. The "4" and the "x" CANNOT be separated, they are part of the same term.

Answer 17

What you did was show symmetry, but that is not too important at this point. We have to get the 2x term and the 4x term on the same side. So, if we take 2x = 5 + 4x and we SUBTRACT 4x from each side, we get 2x - 4x = 5 + 4x - 4x. That keeps the equality because we did the same addition or subtraction to each side. Now, 2x - 4x = 5 + 4x - 4x is the same as 2x - 4x = 5 + (4x - 4x). Can you see what this equals?

Answer 18

It becomes 2x - 4x = 5 + (0). Or 2x - 4x = 5.

Answer 19

We then use the Distributive Law of Multiplication: 2x - 4x = 5 is the same as (2 - 4)x = 5. Stop and let this sink in. This is a very important operation and is the real key to solving this.

Answer 20

oh ok i get it

Answer 21

addition changes too a subtraction

Answer 22

(2 - 4)x = 5 becomes (-2)x = 5. Yes that is a good point. Addition and subtraction are really, really closely associated. Subtraction is just adding a negative. That also is important and can be better realized with examples. Now, (-2)x = 5 is the same as -2x = 5. We only have to divide both sides now by -2.

Answer 23

(-2x) / (-2) = 5 / (-2). I'm using a lot of parenthese to show the operations. (-2x) / (-2) = 5 / (-2) becomes x(-2) / (-2) = 5 / (-2) = x. So, x = -5/2

Answer 24

There is a lot here, but it's all good. We went through a lot of steps, step-by-step, and eventually, you'll be able to short-cut some of these steps. If you do it a lot, you'll eventually breeze through this stuff. It's overwhelming at first and for a while, so I suggest you go over this whole series of posts at least a couple of times. It will be very worth it in the long run.

Answer 25

ok

Answer 26

Pleas tell me if this is making sense, because I don't want to leave you with confusion, because that won't help you out. I'll go over anything, but I want you to get it because learning is very important.

Answer 27

so the answer for twice a number is -2x and the five more than four times a number is

Answer 28

Im really confuse with this algebra