Thank you for the thanks on the post. I only just noticed it. I never thought to thank anyone like that before. It was a good idea.

Sorry that I didn't notice your post earlier.

x=1

I think this wasn't too hard or that easy.

Thanks for the extra problem. It was fun.

I'm still getting used to this forum, and I'm having a great time.

When I saw a flashing post icon with my name next to it, I was pretty surprised.

I'm looking forward to hear more from you.

That's great Anonymous 4338

try this one
5(a+4)=6-(a-9)

This question is much harder. You do know how to expand brackets don't you?
HINT: there is an invisable 1 between the minus sign and the bracket.

THIS TOOK FOREVER TO DO!

I FINALLY GOT THE ANSWER!

_
a=-0.83

(3 continued forever)

THAT WAS HARD!

I want to see your working please.
I should have said that before.
Sorry.

Don't expect it soon. It's gonna take a while to show my work.

Anonymous4338:

Don't expect it soon. It's gonna take a while to show my work.

Did you actually do working or did you get the answer by trial and error on your calculator?

I actually did the work, but I checked my work with calculator.

Okay, that is good but I would still like to see your working.
Working and your setting out is extremely important in mathematics.
You have probably seen me answer lots of questions for other people.
Try to do it the way I would. Only ever put one equal sign per line.
If you were doing it on paper you would line all your equal signs up under each other.
Unfortunately, on the forum that is too difficult .
The question was
5(a+4)=6-(a-9)

Hi Anonymous 4338,
I am wondering why you haven't done this.
I am assuming that either you just don't want to, which is absolutely fine.
or
you don't know how to lay it out properly. If this is the case I can help you learn.
Setting out is very important in maths and it can make things much easier.
Melody.

Sorry I haven't posted in a while. My teacher has been giving me loads of homework.

So far, I've got most of the problem. All I'm confused on is how to lay out 6-(a-9).

Melody:

5(a+4)=6-(a-9)

Hi Anonymous 4334,
If this was a question that someone was asking me I would put in a real lot of steps to make it easier to follow.
However, if I was doing it for myself this is what I would do.

5(a+4)=6-(a-9)
5a+20 =6-a+9
5a+20 = 15-a
6a+20=15
6a=-5
a=-5/6

Maybe I should check that you understand, the minus sign always belongs to the thing behind it. And, if there is nothing between a minus sign and a bracket, there is really an invisible one.
so I will do the RHS (right hand side) really slowly.
6-(a-9)
= 6 - 1(a-9)
= 6+ -1(a-9)
= 6+ (-1*a) +(-1*-9)
= 6+-a++9
= 6-a+9
= 6+9-a
= 15-a

And, on paper I would line up all the equal signs (underneath each other)
Do you understand all that.
Don't do the next one unless you completly understand the first one.

Do you want to try another one?
1-5(x+3)= -(x+17) - 2(6-x)