Question

An equation and the steps to solve it are shown below:

3x - one over two (8x - 2) = 4
Step 1: 3x - 4x + 1 = 4
Step 2: x + 1 = 4
Step 3: x + 1 - 1 = 4 - 1
Step 4: x = 3

Which step was the error made and why?

Answer 1

@kewlgeek555

Answer 2

3x -1 /2(8x - 2) = 4 is this the equation mentioned in the question?

Answer 3

yes

Answer 4

3x (16x - 4) - 1 = 4(16x - 4) will be the first step so It was wrong in the first step itself

Answer 5

So, let me re-write the original equation:

\[3x-0.5(8x-2)=4\]First, you distribute the -0.5 to 8x and -2.\[3x-(-4x)+2=4\]\[3x+4x+2=4\]See how I changed the "-(-" to an addition sign. So I THINK that's where they got wrong, but maybe I'm worng...

Answer 6

@ganibl it's "-0.5", not "2"

Answer 7

@kewlgeek555 Does 1/2 and 0.5 are not same :o

Answer 8

*facepalm*

Answer 9

I think it does @ganibl

Answer 10

babydoll

step 1 is right
step 2 is wrong

should be

-x +1 = 4

Answer 11

then we have

-x = 3

Answer 12

so x = -3