what is 3x + 3(5x - 8) = 14x - 4?

Question

what do the x represent in the equation 3x + 3(5x - 8) = 14x - 4

Answer 1

3x + 3(5x - 8) = 14x - 4

3x + 3×(5x) - 3×8 = 14x - 4

3x + 15x - 24 = 14x - 4

18x - 24 = 14x - 4

 

Now you could subtract 14x from both sides of the equation:

18x - 14x - 24 = 14x - 14x - 4

4x - 24 = - 4

 

Now we can add 24 to both sides of the equation:

4x - 24 + 24 = - 4 + 24

4x = 20

 

Now we can divide both sides of the equation by 4 :

(4x)/4 = 20/4

x = 5