Question

Solve for x.
-3 + 8x - 5 = -8

Answer 1

Start by getting the x variable alone on one side. do you know how to do this?

Answer 2

Not really

Answer 3

Okay, since 8x is already on the left side, let's keep it that way. So, we need to get everything that doesn't have an x variable to the right side.

Answer 4

we can start with the -3

-3 + 8x -5 = -8 (Add three to both sides)

8x - 5 = -5

Do you see what I did?

Answer 5

Moved them around

Answer 6

pretty much, all I did was add 3 to both sides. this cancelled the 3 on the left, and -8 + 3 = -5, which is how I ended up with -5 on the right

Answer 7

Can you tell me what to do next with

8x -5 = -5 ?

Answer 8

I'm at a 5th grade level for math..sooo. no

Answer 9

okay, we're going to do the same thing. but we're going to add 5 to both sides to get the x variable by itself

8x - 5 = -5

8x = 0 (because -5 + 5 = 0)

make sense?

Answer 10

Not at all, sorry I have a really hard time understanding math

Answer 11

it's okay. what don't you understand?

Answer 12

....Everything

Answer 13

well the equation we started with was

-3 + 8x - 5 = -8

and we want to know what 'x' is equal to. so we have to solve for it. that's all we're doing

but to do that, we need to get the 'x' by itself

Answer 14

let me write the equation we started with differently.

Answer 15

8x -3 -5 = -8

all i did was move the -3 next to the -5

Answer 16

now, what is -3 -5 ?

Answer 17

-8?

Answer 18

perfect. so our equation becomes

8x -8 = -8

Answer 19

now the 'x' needs to be by itself, so what is the opposite of -8?

Answer 20

8

Answer 21

yes, so we are going to ADD 8 to both sides

8x -8 = -8
+8 +8

Answer 22

what is -8 + 8 ?

Answer 23

16

Answer 24

-8 + 8 equals 0, not 16

it's the same as

8 - 8 which is 0

do you see?

Answer 25

Yes

Answer 26

The cancel each other out

Answer 27

yes, good job. so, we end up with

8x = 0

Answer 28

almost done, we need the x by itself, but there is 8 in front of it. so what do we do? we divide both sides by 8

Answer 29

what is 8/8 ?

Answer 30

1or 0

Answer 31

it's 1. ANY number divided by itself is ALWAYS 1

Answer 32

and what is 0 / 8 ?

Answer 33

0?

Answer 34

perfect. so we end up with

1x = 0 which you can write as just x = 0

Answer 35

Thank you

Answer 36

you can check that your answer is right by putting it back into the equation

8(0) -3 -5 = -8

-8 = -8 which is true.

Answer 37

you did good, good job!

Answer 38

Lol thanks