Question

Solve for x.

3x - 1 = 20

Answer 1

x=7

Answer 2

Come on. This is the same as the last one.

What's the first step?

Answer 3

Since -1 does not contain the variable to solve for, move it to the right-hand side of the equation by adding 1 to both sides.
3x=1+20

Answer 4

Add 20 to 1 to get 21.
3x=21

Answer 5

Divide each term in the equation by 3.
(3x)/(3)=(21)/(3)

Simplify the left-hand side of the equation by canceling the common factors.
x=(21)/(3)

Simplify the right-hand side of the equation by simplifying each term.
x=7

Answer 6

Let's step it up @Zacharymartin We need to see you do one of these successfully. We can't be there during your exam.

Answer 7

This is actually pretty easy once you think about it ^^. You just need to do the operations backwards.

3x - 1 = 20

We have to cancel out the -1.

What's the opposite operation of subtraction? Addition.

Enable to cancel out the -1, you add +1

3x-1=20
+1 +1
---------
3x=21

Now you have to do the opposite of multiplication: division.
3x=21
-- ---
3 3
--------
x=?