Question

How do you solve `3x + 8 = 5x – 20`?

Answer 1

By performing the same basic arithmetic operations on both sides of the given equation we can isolate `x` on one side and a constant on the other to get:`color(white)("XXXX")` `x=14`

Explanation:

Given `3x+8 = 5x-20`

We can get rid of the `x` term on the right side by subtracting `5x` from both sides:
`color(white)("XXXX")` `-2x+8 = -20`

Now by subtracting `8` from both sides we can isolate the constant term(s) to the left side
`color(white)("XXXX")` `-2x=-28`

Finally by dividing both sides by `(-2)` we can reduce the equation to one with only a simple `x` on the left side
`color(white)("XXXX")` `x = 14`