Solve the Equation: Understanding -3 - X = 4

Q: How do I handle the double negative in my check?

Remember that subtracting a negative is the same as adding! So $ -3 - (-7) = -3 + 7 = 4 $. The negatives cancel each other out.

Q: What if I get confused with all the negative signs?

Take it step by step! Write each operation clearly: add x to both sides, then subtract 4 from both sides. Don't rush through the signs.

Q: Is there another way to solve this equation?

Yes! You could subtract 4 from both sides first: $ -7 - x = 0 $, then add x and subtract 7. But the method shown is usually cleaner.

Q: Why is the answer negative?

The answer x = -7 makes sense! When you substitute back, $ -3 - (-7) $ becomes $ -3 + 7 = 4 $, which matches our equation perfectly.

Linear Equations with Negative Constants

Solve for X:

$-3-x=4$

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Step-by-step video solution

Watch the teacher solve the problem with clear explanations

00:05 Let's find the value of X.

00:08 Rearrange the equation so only X is on one side.

00:16 Now, let's group similar terms together.

00:24 Change negative numbers to positive if needed.

00:35 Remember, negative times negative gives a positive.

00:39 And positive times negative results in a negative.

00:43 Great job! That's how you solve this problem.

Step-by-step written solution

Follow each step carefully to understand the complete solution

Understand the problem

Solve for X:

$-3-x=4$

Step-by-step solution

To solve the equation $-3 - x = 4$ , let's follow these steps:

Start by isolating $x$ . We will first eliminate the $-x$ term from the left side by adding $x$ to both sides of the equation. This gives us:

$-3 = 4 + x$

Now, subtract $4$ from both sides to solve for $x$ . This step ensures $x$ is isolated:

$-3 - 4 = x$

Calculate the result on the left side:

$-7 = x$

Hence, the solution to the given equation is $x = -7$ .

Reviewing the choices, the correct choice is , which is $-7$ .

Final Answer

-7

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic

Rule: Add or subtract to isolate the variable term
Technique: Add x to both sides: $-3 = 4 + x$
Check: Substitute back: $-3 - (-7) = -3 + 7 = 4$ ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors

Incorrectly handling the negative x term
Don't just move -x to the right side as +x without changing signs = wrong equation! This creates confusion with sign rules and leads to x = 1 instead of x = -7. Always add x to both sides to properly eliminate -x from the left.

Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge with interactive questions

Solve for $$ b $$ :

$$ 8-b=6 $$

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

Why do I add x to both sides instead of subtracting?

When you have -x on one side, adding x cancels it out completely! If you subtract x, you'd get $-2x$ , making the problem harder.

How do I handle the double negative in my check?

Remember that subtracting a negative is the same as adding! So $-3 - (-7) = -3 + 7 = 4$ . The negatives cancel each other out.

What if I get confused with all the negative signs?

Take it step by step! Write each operation clearly: add x to both sides, then subtract 4 from both sides. Don't rush through the signs.

Is there another way to solve this equation?

Yes! You could subtract 4 from both sides first: $-7 - x = 0$ , then add x and subtract 7. But the method shown is usually cleaner.

Why is the answer negative?

The answer x = -7 makes sense! When you substitute back, $-3 - (-7)$ becomes $-3 + 7 = 4$ , which matches our equation perfectly.

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