+17 I am completly clueless when it comes to math.
+2446 | \(\hspace{5mm}3x+7=5x+1\\ -3x\hspace{9mm}-3x\) | By subtracting 3x from both sides, I am getting closer to the solution of this equation. Subtracting 3x from both sides eliminates one term with an x in it. Since this is an equation, if you do something to one side, you must do the equivalent action to the other; otherwise, the equation is unbalanced! Remember that the goal is to isolate x and find its value. Note that this is not the only way to get rid of one of the x-terms. It is also possible to subtract 5x from both sides, but, by my own convention, I will keep the coefficient of the variable positive. |
| \(\hspace{5mm}7=2x+1\\ -1\hspace{11mm}-1\) | By subtracting 1 from both sides, we are eliminating a constant term. This gets us ever so closer to isolating the variable. |
| \(\hspace{5mm}6\hspace{3mm}=\hspace{5mm}2x\\ \div2\hspace{9mm}\div 2\) | Dividing by 2 on both sides allows us to finally isolate the variable, which is the ultimate goal of equations with unknowns. |
| \(3=x\) | This is the only value for x that satisfies the original equation. |
