Question

3(a - 3) = 2(a + 4)

Answer 1

using the distributive property of multiplication on the left side gives\[3(a-3)=3a-3\cdot 3\] I suggest you use the distributive property on both sides, then gather all terms with the variable on one side, and all constants on the other

Answer 2

i need help because i dont understand, please explain

Answer 3

if you have something on the outside of the brackets, you are multiplying everything on the inside by what's on the outside.

the distributive property basically says that you can multiply each term on the inside by what's on the outside, like this:\[3\times(a+b+c)=3a+3b+3c\]does that make sense so far?

Answer 4

yes

Answer 5

right on. So if we distribute on both sides of the equation\[3(a-3)=2(a+4)\]\[3a-3\cdot 3=2a+2\cdot4\]

Answer 6

well im on online school and only have 19 minutes left on this test and this is my last question.

Answer 7

so to solve for a, we should then gather like terms. In other words, all the terms that have "a" in them should be brought to one side, and those without "a" to the other

Answer 8

well I'm not going to give you the answer, but I'm helping you work through it right?

Answer 9

Yes ,
so 3a-3 and 2a+4

Answer 10

we had 3a-3*3 on the left; what's 3 times 3?

Answer 11

9

Answer 12

and similarly on the right we had 2a+4*2 so don't forget to multiply the 4 by 2 as well

which gives us\[3a-9=2a+8\]

Answer 13

ok

Answer 14

how would we get the a's together on one side of the equation?

Answer 15

add 3+2 to get 5a?

Answer 16

we need to do the same thing to both sides of the equation. look at just the right side\[2a+8\]if we want to get rid of 2a on that side, we subtract 2a so it would cancel\[2a+8-2a\]but we need to do the same thing to both sides, so subtract 2a from the left side as well

Answer 17

\[3a-9-2a=2a+8-2a\]how does that end up if you combine like terms?

Answer 18

you um

Answer 19

will have ... Geez man i dont know, im in seventh grade and they have me taking eight grade math for some reason

Answer 20

well let's look at the left first\[3a-9-2a=a-9\]since 3a-2a=1a=a

Answer 21

Ok . i think i see

Answer 22

can you do the right on your own?\[2a+8-2a=?\]hint: 2a-2a=0

Answer 23

so the right is 8?

Answer 24

exactly. then we have\[a-9=8\]

Answer 25

what do we do to both sides of the equation to get a by itself?

Answer 26

youre really gonna think im dumb, but subtract 8 from 9?

Answer 27

9-8=1
so we would still have a 1 on the left

Answer 28

subtract 9 from 8 for negative 1?

Answer 29

if we add 9 to -9, what do we get?

Answer 30

0

Answer 31

which is what we want, since a+0=a
then a would be by itself on the left.

so let's add 9 to both sides

Answer 32

ok

Answer 33

\[a-9+9=8+9\]

Answer 34

\[a-18=17\]
?

Answer 35

you did the right side right, but look at the left\[a-9+9=a+0=a\]

Answer 36

im confused

Answer 37

let me write it like this\[a-9=8\]\[a-9+9=8+9\]\[a+0=17\]\[a=17\]

Answer 38

ohhhhhhhhhh! the answer is 17.

Answer 39

yep

Answer 40

thanks bro, ill be sure to make sure i ask you when i need math help

Answer 41

my pleasure; good luck on your test.

Answer 42

thanks , i got a 80

Answer 43

Do you play video games like Call of duty , or anything?