Question

Find the solution to the equation -2(x + 5) = -16.

x =

Answer 1

start by dividing both sides by (-2)

what do you get?

Answer 2

1 and -2.5

Answer 3

not quite

notice how the expression (x + 5) is multiplied by -2?

when we divide by -2, we cancel out the -2 in front and we get (x+5)

does that make sense?

Answer 4

yea a little

Answer 5

now, we do the same thing to the other side

-16/-2 = 8

Answer 6

therefore we get:

Answer 7

any ideas what to do next?

Answer 8

add 8 to 5?

Answer 9

not quite

we have x + 5 on the left side, and we only want "x" by itself

so how do you think we get rid of the + 5?

Answer 10

Subtract it by 8

Answer 11

nope, when we subtract

x + 5 - 8

we get x - 3, not x

Answer 12

hint: what is the "opposite" of addition?

Answer 13

Subtraction

Answer 14

good

right now we have

x + 5

which means "x added to 5"

so to get x by itself, we have to "undo" the +5 by subtracting 5

does that make sense?

Answer 15

yea it does

Answer 16

good

so x + 5 - 5 = x

now, what we do to the left side we must also do to the right

8 - 5 = 3

therefore

x = 3 and that is your answer

any questions?

Answer 17

Wow That actually Made sense Lol
Thanks :D