Use a General Strategy to Solve Linear Equations: example 2.39

Solve: $5 (a - 3) + 5 = −10$ .

Work it out on paper first. Then open the solution one step at a time, and stop as soon as you can finish on your own.

Your turn

The book's Try It right after this example: same idea, new numbers. Only the answer is given.

Solve: $2 (m - 4) + 3 = −1$ .

How did it go?


Simplify each side of the equation as much as possible.
Distribute.
Combine like terms.
The only $a$ term is on the left side, so all variable terms are on one side of the equation.
Add $10$ to both sides to get all constant terms on the other side of the equation.
Simplify.
Make the coefficient of the variable term to equal to $1$ by dividing both sides by $5$ .
Simplify.
Check:
Let $a = 0$ .


Simplify each side of the equation as much as possible.
Distribute.
Combine like terms.
The only $a$ term is on the left side, so all variable terms are on one side of the equation.
Add $10$ to both sides to get all constant terms on the other side of the equation.
Simplify.
Make the coefficient of the variable term to equal to $1$ by dividing both sides by $5$ .
Simplify.
Check:
Let $a = 0$ .