Solve for X: 6(x+4)-4 = 8(x+5) Linear Equation Solution

Linear Equations with Distributive Property

Solve for X:

6(x+4)4=8(x+5) 6(x+4)-4=8(x+5)

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Step-by-step video solution

Watch the teacher solve the problem with clear explanations
00:00 Find X
00:04 Carefully open brackets properly, multiply by each factor
00:20 Solve each multiplication separately
00:35 Combine like terms
00:47 Arrange the equation so that only the unknown X is on one side
01:06 Combine like terms
01:16 Isolate X
01:26 Simplify as much as possible
01:29 This is the solution to the problem

Step-by-step written solution

Follow each step carefully to understand the complete solution
1

Understand the problem

Solve for X:

6(x+4)4=8(x+5) 6(x+4)-4=8(x+5)

2

Step-by-step solution

To solve this problem, we'll follow these steps:

  • Expand both sides using the distributive property.
  • Combine like terms and simplify.
  • Isolate the variable x x .

Let's work through the steps in detail:

Step 1: Apply the distributive property:
- Left side: 6(x+4) 6(x+4) expands to 6x+24 6x + 24 .
- Right side: 8(x+5) 8(x+5) expands to 8x+40 8x + 40 .
Substituting back, the equation becomes:

6x+244=8x+40 6x + 24 - 4 = 8x + 40

Step 2: Simplify the equation by combining like terms:
- 24 - 4 simplifies to 20 on the left-hand side.
The equation now is:

6x+20=8x+40 6x + 20 = 8x + 40

Step 3: Isolate the variable x x :
- First, eliminate 6x 6x from the left side by subtracting 6x 6x from both sides:

20=2x+40 20 = 2x + 40

- Next, eliminate 40 from the right side by subtracting 40 from both sides:

2040=2x 20 - 40 = 2x
20=2x -20 = 2x

Step 4: Solve for x x by dividing both sides by 2:

x=202 x = \frac{-20}{2}
x=10 x = -10

Therefore, the solution to the problem is x=10 x = -10 .

3

Final Answer

10 -10

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic
  • Distributive Property: Multiply outside term by every term inside parentheses
  • Technique: Expand 6(x+4) = 6x + 24 before combining like terms
  • Check: Substitute x = -10: 6(-10+4)-4 = 8(-10+5) gives -40 = -40 ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors
  • Forgetting to distribute to all terms inside parentheses
    Don't multiply 6(x+4) as just 6x+4 = wrong expansion! This skips multiplying 6 by the 4, leading to completely incorrect solutions. Always multiply the outside number by every single term inside the parentheses.

Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge with interactive questions

Solve for X:

\( 6 - x = 10 - 2 \)

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

Do I have to expand both sides first?

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Yes! Always use the distributive property to expand both sides before combining like terms. This prevents mistakes and makes the equation easier to solve.

What if I get confused with the negative signs?

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Take it slow! When you see 6(x+4)4 6(x+4)-4 , expand first to get 6x+244 6x + 24 - 4 , then combine: 6x+20 6x + 20 .

How do I move terms to isolate x?

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Use opposite operations! To move 6x 6x from the left side, subtract 6x 6x from both sides. To move constants, add or subtract them from both sides.

Why is my answer negative?

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Negative answers are completely normal! In this problem, x=10 x = -10 is correct. Always check your work by substituting back into the original equation.

Can I solve this problem differently?

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While you could try other methods, the distributive property approach is most reliable for equations with parentheses. It systematically eliminates complexity step by step.

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