
Tamara J. answered 12/03/12
Math Tutoring - Algebra and Calculus (all levels)
4x - 3 = 5x - 17
Here, you have an equation composed of two equations ( 4x - 3 and 5x - 17 ) that are set equal to each other. Your goal is to solve for the unknown variable, x, by isolating the x variable to one side of the equation. To do so, move all terms containing x to one side of the equation and move all other terms to the other side, then combine like terms:
4x - 3 = 5x - 17
- 4x - 4x
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4x - 4x - 3 = 5x - 4x - 17
0x - 3 = 1x - 17 ==> -3 = x - 17
+ 17 + 17
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-3 + 17 = x - 17 + 17
14 = x + 0 ==> x = 14