Question

If the first step in the solution of the equation -9 + x = 5x - 7 is "subtract x," then what should the next step be?

Answer 1

add 7
makes more sense to try to solve it than to explain the steps

Answer 2

\[-9 + x = 5x - 7 \] subtract \(x\)\[-9=4x-7\] then you have \(x\) on the left, you want the number on the right, so add 7 get
\[-2=4x\]

Answer 3

finish by dividing by 4 to get
\[-\frac{1}{2}=x\]