3 1/3x-2=-4(x+7) - Geometry Honors

Question

Can someone help me solve this equation:

3 1/3x - 2 = -4(x+7)

Answer 1

3 and 1/3 = 10/3

(10/3)x - 2 = -4(x+7)

(10/3) x - 2 = -4x - 28

(10/3)x + 4x - 2 = -28

(10/3)x + (12/3)x - 2 = -28

(22/3)x - 2 = -28

(22/3)x = -26

x = (-26)(3/22) = -78/22 = -39/11

CHECK:

left side:

(10/3)(-39/11) - 2 = -390/33 - 2 = -130/11 - 2= -130/11 - 22/11 = -152/11

right side:

-4(-39/11 + 7) = -4( -39/11 + 77/11) = -4( 38/11) = -152/11

Answer 2

I decided to expand the equation a little to make operations simpler (for me):

(10/3) x - 2 = -4x - 28

Add 28 to both sides

(10/3) x + 26 = -4x

Remember that 4x = (12/3) x and subtract (10/3) x from both sides

26 = -(22/3) x

And so x = -78/22. You can simplify that a little, to -39/11.