If 4x + 5 = 13x + 4 – x – 9, then x = ?

Question

Gdub08 · Answer

Are you supposed to combine like terms? the 4x and the 13x?

umm · Answer

Yes, combine both terms. But firstly, you need to simplify both sides of the equation, like so
$$4 x + 5 = 13 x + 4 − x − 9$$
$$4 x + 5 = 13 x + 4 + − x + − 9$$
Here you combine terms $$4 x + 5 = ( 13 x + − x ) + ( 4 + − 9 )$$

Gdub08 · Answer

@umm wrote:

Yes, combine both terms. But firstly, you need to simplify both sides of the equation, like so $$4 x + 5 = 13 x + 4 − x − 9$$ $$4 x + 5 = 13 x + 4 + − x + − 9$$ Here you combine terms $$4 x + 5 = ( 13 x + − x ) + ( 4 + − 9 )$$

so then x = 5/4, right?... I think. or 1 1/4