Question

Please help me solve this.
I am not looking for the answer because I don't want to cheat, I promise.
What is: 9c + 4 = -23?

Answer 1

ok so to start off you want the variable, c, on its own,
you would start by moving the 4 to the other side, you do this by subtracting 4 from both sides
9c+4-4= -23-4

Answer 2

Okay, so it would be 9c + 0 = 19?

Answer 3

close but not quite, your right about 9c+0 but if it is a negative 23 you are going further negative by subtracting 4

Answer 4

I'm sorry, but I'm still confused! I know, I'm a pain, haha.

Answer 5

dont worry about it, my teacher gave us an illistration, think of the negative numbers as bruises and the positive as bandages, so if you had 5 bandages and 4 bruises you would have 1 bandage 5-4=1,
but if you had 5 bruises and then 4 more bruises you would have 9 bruises -5-4=-9
using this if you had 23 bruises (-23) and then 4 more bruises (-4) how many bruises would you have? -23-4=?

Answer 6

Oh... okay, so it would be -27?

Answer 7

yeap!

Answer 8

So, 9c+4-4=-23-4 is...
9c+0=-27...

Answer 9

exactly

Answer 10

the next thing you need to do is bring the 9 to the other side, in order to bring something to the other side you need to do the opposite of it.
because the equation is c times 9 you need to divide by 9 to get rid of it
\[9c \div 9=-27\div9\]

Answer 11

So it's 1c = -3?

Answer 12

Or c = -3?

Answer 13

you got it!

Answer 14

Thank you so much! I am not good at math and the course that I am taking doesn't explain anything very well. :D

Answer 15

no problem! ill be glad to help anytime i can

Answer 16

Thanks!