-7-8=3x+4-2x the solution is x=

Question

working on distributive property. Real confused

Answer 1

-7 - 8 = 3x + 4 - 2x

 

First, do the arithmetic on the left side.  You can do it directly (-7 - 8 = -15), or you could use the distributive property to see that -7 -8 = - (7+8) = -15.

 

So now you have:

-15 = 3x + 4 -2x

 

No get the x's together on the right:

-15 = 3x - 2x + 4

 

The distributive property tells you that 3x - 2x is the same as (3-2)x = 1x = x

 

So now it looks like this:

-15 = x + 4

 

Subtract 4 from both sides:

-19 = x