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Exercises Equations and inequalities

Example 8.29 from Prealgebra, 8.3 Solve Equations with Variables and Constants on Both Sides

Solve Equations with Variables and Constants on Both Sides: example 8.29

Solve: $3.4 x + 4 = 1.6 x - 5 .$

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.

Solution
Since $3.4 > 1.6,$ make the left side the variable side and the right side the constant side.

Subtract $1.6 x$ from both sides.

Combine like terms.

Subtract 4 from both sides.

Simplify.

Use the Division Property of Equality.

Simplify.

Check: Let $x = −5$ .

Your turn

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

Solve: $2.8 x + 12 = −1.4 x - 9 .$

How did it go?

PreviousSolve Equations with Variables and Constants on Both Sides: example 8.28 Next Solve Equations with Variables and Constants on Both Sides: example 8.30

From Prealgebra (1st edition) by OpenStax (Rice University), section 8.3, licensed under CC BY 4.0. Original at openstax.org. We split the solution into steps; the words, numbers and figures are the book's. OpenStax doesn't endorse this site.