Max M. answered • 09/07/19
Improve your skills and scores with a Harvard grad.
Dr. D's method is correct, but Mary, your correction of her computation is also correct; the answer is -14, -13, -12.
I'm not sure what you're going for in the section after that, where you "try some negative numbers to start process"--the answer above completes the problem--but the mistake in your formula is reversing the negative sign for 2x. If x=-41, 2x=-82, not +82. Perhaps you're trying to apply exponent rules to multiplication? Even exponents of negative numbers do produce positive results, and odd exponents produce negative results. For example, (-2)^2=4, (-2)^3=-8.
But that correction doesn't affect this question; x=-38 does not satisfy the conditions in the problem. Your formula is:
-76=x-2x+3x (or more simply: -76=2x), which is not a correct expression of the given problem.
Mary M.
I am really confused this week, Max. Sorry about the second faux pas.09/08/19
Max M.
No need to apologize--*I* apologize if I came off harsh or overly critical. I just wanted to keep things as clear as possible in case the original poster was still reading the thread!09/09/19
Mary M.
I never mind making mistakes and being reminded, since I appreciate anyone taking time to help me when I am not paying attention or thinking illogically. My learning styles (linguistic, kinesthetic, etc.) are all over the place in different subjects, so I can make mistakes when I reply too quickly. I never take offense when I realize that my reasoning is wrong. Once-in-awhile, I do take offense when someone doesn't see that my reasoning is also correct, like in Spanish/English or English/Spanish academic versus conversational learning. You are very kind to reply since math is mostly an exact science, and I would rather be correct in my answers. Thanks!09/09/19
Max M.
All good. It reminds me of my math major friend's joke: One is not equal to two...not even for very large values of one.09/09/19
Mary M.
Ha! Ha! This reminds me of my astute high school Algebra teacher who spoke with a lisp. One day in Algebra II, she asked me during class discussion time if I were planning to take higher math such as Geometry, Trig, Calculus, etc. I depended upon my own understanding with math since my parent had no idea how to figure the problems, leaving me with this advice, "Do the best you can...focus when you learn math...you are on your own since your brother is in the Army". Without thinking first, I screamed, "Ms. R (pronounced with a W..., I am not pwanning to take Twigonometwy next yea-ah." Then, I realized that I had mimicked her lisp (totally without meaning to do so). The whole class remained silent for a solid minute (exactly, like math should be). Then, we resumed our Algebra assignment. I went home scared to death that I would now make a D in Algebra, all because of an unexpected question.09/11/19
Mary M.
Ha, Ha, Ha, thanks for noticing, Max...I am too hot and tired this week. I don't know why I made 2x and x-to-the-2nd-power...I never noticed it.09/07/19