Question

Given: 3x + 1 = 2 + 2x – 4

Prove: x = –3

Given the equation 3x + 1 = 2 + 2x – 4, use the commutative property to rearrange the terms so that like terms are next to one another. This gives the equation 3x + 1 = 2 – 4 + 2x. Then use the associative property of addition to group the like terms. This gives the equation 3x + 1 = (2 – 4) + 2x. Next, combine like terms to get the equation 3x + 1 = – 2 + 2x. Use the subtraction property of equality to subtract 2x from both sides of the equation. This gives the equation x + 1 = – 2. Then use the _________________________ to subtract 1 from both

Answer 1

Use the subtraction property of equality again. It's the same thing as subtracting 2x from each side. 2x is really just a number.