Identifying solutions to a linear equation

Question

For each value of w determine whether it is a solution to -60 = -4(w+8)

Answer 1

Hi Tamara,

So the equation is:

-60 = -4(w+8)

1) First we distribute the 4, so we have:

-60= -4w-32

2) Then we add 32 on both sides to get:

-60+32= -4w -32+32

3) Then it looks like:

-28= -4w

4) Finally we divide the -4 to isolate the w

-28/-4 = -4w/-4

5) The answer we get is:

w=7

7 is your only solution :)

Answer 2

-60 = -4(w+8)

-60/-4 = w+8 [divide the -60 by -4 to isolate w]

15 = w+8 [-60/-4 is equal to 15 because the negatives cancel out]

15-8 = w [subtract 8 to isolate w]

w = 7

Therefore, 7 is the only solution to the equation. Any other number will not allow this statement to be true. Always make sure to plug back in and check your work.

Answer 3

Hi Tamara! You didn't give the values of w to test, but we can use some of our own to see how it works. Let's say we want to test if w = 2 is a solution. We just replace the w with 2 and simplify. We would get -60 = -4 (2 + 8). We then get -60 = -4 (10). But -60 = -40 does not make sense, so w = 2 is not a solution to the equation. If we need to test w = 7, then we get -60 = -4 (7 + 8). We simplify and get -60 = -4 (15). Since -60 = -60, we know that w = 7 is a solution to the equation.