Kh S.

asked • 11/07/24

15 equals -5 times X -2

Joseph C.

tutor
15 equals -5 times X -2 ---- By you writing this out, I assume you mean to indicate 15 = -5(X-2). To answer this, we need to break it down into steps. *These steps assume you understand the difference between multiplying, dividing, adding, and subtracting negative and positive numbers. Step 1. We want to look at the formula: 15 = -5(X-2). Step 2. Seeing as this is an algebraic formula, we ultimately want to balance both sides of the equals sign and solve for X. Step 3. Use PEMDAS to see if it applies and it does. Step 4. P in PEMDAS stands for parenthesis but, there is nothing we can do with X-2 for the moment. Step 5. Next, since E stands for exponents, and there are none in the formula, we can move on to the next one. Step 6. M stands for multiplication. Here is where the actual work occurs. We can use a property called the distributive property. -5(X-2) becomes --- -5 multiplied by X to get: -5X and multiplied by -2 to get: positive 10 or (+10). Step 7. We re-write our equation with our new work: 15 = -5X + 10 Step 8. We want to subtract 10 from the left side and the right side thus, in turn, isolating -5X. This looks like: - 10 - 15 = -5X + 10 -10 = -10 - 15 (-25) = -5X + 10 - 10 (0) We are left with the equation: -25 = -5X Step 9. We want to divide both sides by the coefficient of X which is -5. This looks like: -25/-5 = -5X/-5 We get: X= 5
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11/07/24

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Sasha G. answered • 12/18/24

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Hello! Here is a helpful answer to your question :)


The problem is:

-5(x-2) = 15


First step:

Divide both sides of the equation by -5 to cancel it out.

15 divided by -5 = -3


New equation:

x-2 = -3


Second step:

Add 2 to both sides to cancel out again


So, the answer is:

x = -1


Hope this helped!! Good luck with math :)

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Anna L. answered • 11/07/24

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If you are solving for "x" then I will rewrite this as I read it to help you solve it.


15= -5(x-2)

Divide both sides of the equation by -5, this will balance the equation.

-3=x-2

Add -2 to both sides to continue to balance out the equation to solve for x.

X= -1


Best of luck! Algebra was always fun for me!




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