Unknowns on both sides and brackets
Collect the x terms
Take the smaller x term away from both sides, so the x term stays positive.
- 7x − 4 = 3x + 16
- subtract 3x: 4x − 4 = 16
- add 4: 4x = 20
- x = 5
Expand first
- 5(x − 2) − 2(x + 3) = 2
- 5x − 10 − 2x − 6 = 2
- 3x − 16 = 2
- 3x = 18, so x = 6
The minus in front of the second bracket changes both signs inside it: −2 × +3 = −6.
Check with the solver
Enter 7x − 4 = 3x + 16 in the solver. Then type your own: pick any x, say 3, and make an equation with x on both sides that it solves. Does the solver agree?
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