Can someone help me understand how to solve this equation?
x + 3(-2x + 11) = 18
x - 6x + 33 = 18
-5x + 33 = 18
-5x = -15
x = 3
These are the steps in the textbook. Everything makes sense to me in the equation up until the portion with -5.

Question

Can someone help me understand how to solve this equation?
x + 3(-2x + 11) = 18
       x - 6x + 33 = 18
           -5x + 33 = 18
                  -5x = -15
                      x = 3
These are the steps in the textbook. Everything makes sense to me in the equation up until the portion with -5.

imstuck · Answer

You get -5x when you combine the x and the -6x in the second line.  x - 6x = -5x.

anonymous · Answer

x-6x is the same as writing 1x-6x