Question

Can someone please explain this like really break it down for me that even my two year old niece can understand. ...
4x-26-3x=16-20
I'm supposed to find the solution to the equation.

Answer 1

on the right side you have 16-20
any idea how to simplify that ?

Answer 2

You mean make it smaller?

Answer 3

yes, do the subtraction

Answer 4

Ok 16- 20 = - 4

Answer 5

so
4x-26-3x=16-20
becomes
4x-26-3x= -4

that is progress.

on the left side you have 4 x's take away 3 x's
how many x's do you have ?

Answer 6

7

Answer 7

if you have 4 spoons and take away 3 spoons you don't have 7 spoons
if you have 4 x's and take away 3 x's you don't end up with 7 x's

Answer 8

sorry I didn't mean to add and I was using my phone as old as I am I should know this
the answer is 3

Answer 9

4x-3x = 1x
we don't usually bother to write 1x (which means 1 times x), we just write x
so
4x-3x= x

Answer 10

that means
4x-26-3x= -4
can be rewritten as

x - 26 = -4
now add +26 to both sides, like this:
x+26-26 = +26-4
simplify both sides (do the subtraction)

Answer 11

yeah I was okay once I found out 4x-3x=1 or just x but after that I got lost if I cant learn this how can I help my own son with his math homework? do you want me to add 26 to 1 then minus 26 ??

Answer 12

we are at
x -26= -4
we can add the same thing to both sides, and things will stay equal
x-26+26= -4+26
you can add -26 and +26 on the left side
but x is not a "simple" number. in other words, x is not the same as 1. It is x

but we can simplify the pure numbers
can you try to do that and write down the new equation ?

Answer 13

btw, if you have time, see
https://www.khanacademy.org/math/cc-seventh-grade-math/cc-7th-variables-expressions/cc-7th-manipulating-expressions/v/combining-like-terms
and
https://www.khanacademy.org/math/cc-seventh-grade-math/cc-7th-variables-expressions/cc-7th-2-step-equations/v/why-we-do-the-same-thing-to-both-sides-two-step-equations

if you find them helpful, look at the other videos in this section.

Answer 14

going to watch them now then ill come back thank you