I'm sure this is easy, but I haven't done this in about 4 years, need help solving $$4x\times5$$

Question

amistre64 · Answer

as is, there is no "solution" other than: the set of Real numbers

andriod09 · Answer

i have to "Simplify the Following."

amistre64 · Answer

oh, but its pretty simple as is :)

multiply what you can multiply, and leave as is the things you cant

andriod09 · Answer

But i was taught you can't multiply until you found the variable, and if i do that, i don't want to deal with the decimal

amistre64 · Answer

simplification is just rewriting an expression; it has nothing to do with "solving for x"

the variable is a placeholder is all

amistre64 · Answer

4x*5 = 4*x*5 = 4*5*x = 5*4*x = 20*x = 20x

amistre64 · Answer

4x = x+x+x+x

5 times, 4x = (x+x+x+x) + (x+x+x+x) + (x+x+x+x) + (x+x+x+x) + (x+x+x+x)
                  = 20x

andriod09 · Answer

Ah okay. that's simpler than I thought. :P Again, I haven't done this simple of math in a very long time. Thanks.

amistre64 · Answer

youre welcome

andriod09 · Answer

It would be negative 20x, if there was a negative number, right? it was $$4x\times-5$$ was the real equation.