Explain how to solve 5x-5=10 using two steps.

Question

"What is the Answer? Show all work. "

Answer 1

To "solve" means to find the value of x.

 

The variable 'x' is multiplied by 5, then 5 is subtracted from that value.  That means, to isolate x, we can add (the opposite of subtract) and divide (the opposite of multiply) in order to isolate x.  For this problem, it is easy to do these in either order.  Let's add then divide.

 

    5x - 5 = 10    [given equation]

    5x = 15         [step 1:  add 5 to both sides]

     x  = 3          [step 2:  divide both sides by 5]

Answer 2

You are only allowed to use two steps? Alrighty then.  Hopefully this website begins to realize I'm not an imposter and that I'm about to graduate from college for organic chem.... this is a nice refreshing break from calculus 3 :P

 

Anyways, the first thing you notice is the common factor of 5.  So divide the whole thing by 5 and get:

 

5x/5-5/5=10/5

 

Which, of course, simplifies to x-1=2

We have now used one step.  The second step is to isolate the X!

 

So, we add 1 to both sides to get rid of the "-1" term on the left hand side near the X.  We are left with:

 

x=3

 

 

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