Question 83·Medium·Linear Equations in One Variable
If , what is ?
For linear equations with parentheses, quickly distribute any factors first, then combine like terms so each side has at most one x-term and one constant. Next, move all x-terms to one side and constants to the other using addition or subtraction, and finally isolate x by dividing by its coefficient; a brief check by plugging your result back into the original equation can catch sign or distribution errors.
Hints
Start with the parentheses
Focus on simplifying the left side first: how do you distribute the to both and inside the parentheses?
Combine like terms
After distributing, combine the constant numbers on the left side so that your equation has one constant term and one term on each side.
Move x terms together
Get all the terms on one side of the equation and all the constant terms on the other, then solve for using inverse operations (undoing addition/subtraction and then multiplication).
Desmos Guide
Graph the left-hand side
In one expression line, type y = 7 - 2(3x - 4) to graph the left-hand side of the equation.
Graph the right-hand side
In a new expression line, type y = 5x + 1 to graph the right-hand side.
Find the solution from the intersection
Look for the point where the two lines intersect; click or tap that intersection and read the x-coordinate shown by Desmos. That x-value is the solution to the equation.
Step-by-step Explanation
Distribute and simplify the left side
Start with the given equation: .
Distribute the to both terms inside the parentheses:
So the left side becomes . Combine the constants and to get , so the equation is now .
Collect variable terms on one side
Move all terms to one side and all constant terms to the other.
Add to both sides to get rid of on the left:
Now subtract from both sides so that only the term remains on the right:
Isolate x
Solve by dividing both sides by .
This gives , which corresponds to answer choice C.