Examples with solutions for Simplifying and Combining Like Terms: Equations with variables on both sides

Exercise #1

x+x=8 x+x=8

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

To solve the equation x+x=8 x + x = 8 , follow these steps:

  • Step 1: Combine like terms. Since the left side of the equation is x+x x + x , it can be simplified to 2x 2x . This gives us the equation 2x=8 2x = 8 .
  • Step 2: Solve for x x by isolating it. Divide both sides of the equation by 2 to get x x .
  • Performing the division gives x=82 x = \frac{8}{2} .
  • Step 3: Calculate the result of the division. 82=4 \frac{8}{2} = 4 .

Therefore, the solution to the equation is x=4 x = 4 .

Answer

4

Exercise #2

Solve for b b :

8−b=6 8-b=6

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

First we will move terms so that -b remains remains on the left side of the equation.

We'll move 8 to the right-hand side, making sure to retain the plus and minus signs accordingly:

−b=6−8 -b=6-8

Then we will subtract as follows:

−b=−2 -b=-2

Finally, we will divide both sides by -1 (be careful with the plus and minus signs when dividing by a negative):

−b−1=−2−1 \frac{-b}{-1}=\frac{-2}{-1}

b=2 b=2

Answer

2 2

Exercise #3

−16+a=−17 -16+a=-17

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

Let's solve the equation −16+a=−17 -16 + a = -17 by isolating the variable a a .

To isolate a a , add 16 to both sides of the equation to cancel out the −16 -16 :

−16+a+16=−17+16 -16 + a + 16 = -17 + 16

This simplification results in:

a=−1 a = -1

Thus, the solution to the equation −16+a=−17 -16 + a = -17 is a=−1 a = -1 .

If we review the answer choices given, the correct answer is Choice 4, −1 -1 .

The solution to the problem is a=−1 a = -1 .

Answer

−1 -1

Exercise #4

2+4y−2y=4 2+4y-2y=4

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

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

  • Step 1: Combine like terms.
  • Step 2: Simplify and isolate the variable.
  • Step 3: Solve for the variable.

Let's address each step in detail:
Step 1: Combine the like terms on the left side of the equation.
The original equation is: 2+4y−2y=4 2 + 4y - 2y = 4 Combine the terms involving y y :
4y−2y=2y 4y - 2y = 2y The equation now becomes:
2+2y=4 2 + 2y = 4 Step 2: Simplify the equation to isolate 2y 2y .
Subtract 2 from both sides to begin the process of isolating y y :
2y=4−2 2y = 4 - 2 Simplify the right side:
2y=2 2y = 2 Step 3: Solve for y y by dividing both sides by 2:
y=22 y = \frac{2}{2} This simplifies to:
y=1 y = 1 Thus, the solution to the equation is: y=1 y = 1 .

Answer

1 1

Exercise #5

Solve for X:

−3+x=−8 -3+x=-8

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

To solve the equation −3+x=−8 -3 + x = -8 , we need to isolate the variable xx. We can do this by eliminating the constant term on the side with the variable.

Step 1: Add 3 to both sides of the equation to cancel out the −3-3 next to xx.
This gives us:

−3+x+3=−8+3-3 + x + 3 = -8 + 3

Step 2: Simplifying both sides of the equation results in:

x=−5x = -5

Therefore, the solution to the equation is x=−5 x = -5 , which matches choice 2.

Answer

-5

Exercise #6

Solve for x:

5+x=3 5+x=3

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

We will rearrange the equation so that x remains on the left side and we will move similar elements to the right side.

Remember that when we move a positive number, it will become a negative number, so we will get:

x=3−5 x=3-5

x=−2 x=-2

Answer

-2

Exercise #7

Solve for X:

3=5−x 3=5-x

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

To solve the equation 3=5−x 3 = 5 - x , we need to isolate x x . We'll perform a sequence of simple algebraic manipulations:

  • Step 1: Add x x to both sides of the equation to move x x to the left side. This gives us:
  • 3+x=5 3 + x = 5

  • Step 2: Subtract 3 from both sides of the equation to solve for x x :
  • x=5−3 x = 5 - 3

  • Step 3: Simplify the right side:
  • x=2 x = 2

Therefore, the solution to the equation is x=2 x = 2 .

Answer

2

Exercise #8

Solve for x:

8(−2−x)=16 8(-2-x)=16

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

First, we divide both sections by 8:

8(−2−x)8=168 \frac{8(-2-x)}{8}=\frac{16}{8}

Keep in mind that the 8 in the fraction of the left section is reduced, so the equation we get is:

−2−x=2 -2-x=2

We move the minus 2 to the right section and maintain the plus and minus signs accordingly:

−x=2+2 -x=2+2

−x=4 -x=4

We divide both sides by minus 1 and maintain the plus and minus signs accordingly when we divide:

−x−1=4−1 \frac{-x}{-1}=\frac{4}{-1}

x=−4 x=-4

Answer

-4

Exercise #9

Solve for X:

−3−x=4 -3-x=4

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

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

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

−3=4+x-3 = 4 + x

  • Now, subtract 44 from both sides to solve for xx. This step ensures xx is isolated:

−3−4=x-3 - 4 = x

  • Calculate the result on the left side:

−7=x-7 = x

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

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

Answer

-7

Exercise #10

19=3a−6+4a−2a 19=3a-6+4a-2a

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

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

  • Step 1: Simplify the equation by combining like terms.
  • Step 2: Isolate the variable a a to find its value.
  • Step 3: Verify the solution by substitution.

Now, let's work through each step:
Step 1: The given equation is 19=3a−6+4a−2a 19 = 3a - 6 + 4a - 2a .
First, combine the like terms involving a a :
3a+4a−2a=5a 3a + 4a - 2a = 5a .
Now, the equation simplifies to 19=5a−6 19 = 5a - 6 .

Step 2: Isolate a a by first adding 6 to both sides of the equation to eliminate the constant term on the right side:
19+6=5a 19 + 6 = 5a
25=5a 25 = 5a .

Next, divide both sides by 5 to solve for a a :
a=255 a = \frac{25}{5}
a=5 a = 5 .

Step 3: Verify the solution:
Substitute a=5 a = 5 back into the original equation:
19=3(5)−6+4(5)−2(5) 19 = 3(5) - 6 + 4(5) - 2(5)
Calculate each term: 3(5)=15 3(5) = 15 , 4(5)=20 4(5) = 20 , and 2(5)=10 2(5) = 10 .
Therefore, 19=15−6+20−10 19 = 15 - 6 + 20 - 10 , which simplifies to 19=19 19 = 19 , confirming our solution is correct.

Therefore, the solution to the problem is a=5 a = 5 .

Answer

5 5

Exercise #11

y+10−3y=−150 y+10-3y=-150

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

To solve the equation y+10−3y=−150 y + 10 - 3y = -150 , follow these steps:

Step 1: Combine like terms on the left side of the equation:

y+10−3y y + 10 - 3y simplifies to −2y+10-2y + 10.

Now the equation is:

−2y+10=−150-2y + 10 = -150.

Step 2: Subtract 10 from both sides to begin isolating −2y-2y:

−2y+10−10=−150−10-2y + 10 - 10 = -150 - 10.

This simplifies to:

−2y=−160-2y = -160.

Step 3: Divide both sides by −2-2 to solve for y y :

−2y−2=−160−2\frac{-2y}{-2} = \frac{-160}{-2}.

Thus, y=80 y = 80 .

Therefore, the solution to the problem is y=80 y = 80 .

Answer

80 80

Exercise #12

y−423=8 y-4\frac{2}{3}=8

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

To solve the equation y−423=8 y - 4\frac{2}{3} = 8 , follow these steps:

  • Step 1: Identify the given equation:
    y−423=8 y - 4\frac{2}{3} = 8 .
  • Step 2: Solve for y y by eliminating the subtraction of 423 4\frac{2}{3} . We do this by adding 423 4\frac{2}{3} to both sides of the equation:
    y−423+423=8+423 y - 4\frac{2}{3} + 4\frac{2}{3} = 8 + 4\frac{2}{3} .
  • Step 3: Simplify the left side:
    Since 423−423=0 4\frac{2}{3} - 4\frac{2}{3} = 0 , the left side simplifies to just y y .
    Thus, y=8+423 y = 8 + 4\frac{2}{3} .
  • Step 4: Simplify the right side by converting the mixed number to an improper fraction:
    Convert 423 4\frac{2}{3} to an improper fraction: Multiply 4 by 3 and add 2, giving 143 \frac{14}{3} .
    Therefore, add 8+143 8 + \frac{14}{3} . Convert 8 to a fraction with denominator 3, which is 243 \frac{24}{3} .
    Now, add these fractions:
    243+143=383 \frac{24}{3} + \frac{14}{3} = \frac{38}{3} .
  • Step 5: Convert back to a mixed number (if desired):
    383=1223 \frac{38}{3} = 12\frac{2}{3} .

Therefore, the solution to the problem is y=1223 y = 12\frac{2}{3} .

Answer

1223 12\frac{2}{3}

Exercise #13

3x−18+2x=32 3x-18+2x=32

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

To solve the equation 3x−18+2x=323x - 18 + 2x = 32, we begin by simplifying the left side:

  • Step 1: Combine like terms for the variable xx:
    The terms involving xx are 3x3x and 2x2x. Combining them gives 5x5x. So the equation becomes 5x−18=325x - 18 = 32.
  • Step 2: Isolate the term with the variable:
    Add 18 to both sides of the equation to move the constant term to the right side:
    5x−18+18=32+185x - 18 + 18 = 32 + 18
    This simplifies to 5x=505x = 50.
  • Step 3: Solve for xx:
    To isolate xx, divide both sides by 5:
    5x5=505\frac{5x}{5} = \frac{50}{5}
    This simplifies to x=10x = 10.

Therefore, the solution to the equation is x=10\mathbf{x = 10}.

Answer

10 10

Exercise #14

2b+16+b=−2 2b+16+b=-2

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

To solve the equation 2b+16+b=−2 2b + 16 + b = -2 , we'll follow these steps:

  • Step 1: Combine like terms on the left side of the equation.
  • Step 2: Isolate the variable b b on one side of the equation.
  • Step 3: Solve for b b .

Now, let's work through each step:

Step 1: Combine the terms with the variable b b on the left side. We have 2b+b=3b 2b + b = 3b . Thus, the equation becomes:

3b+16=−2 3b + 16 = -2

Step 2: Subtract 16 from both sides to isolate the term with the variable:

3b+16−16=−2−16 3b + 16 - 16 = -2 - 16

Which simplifies to:

3b=−18 3b = -18

Step 3: Divide both sides by 3 to solve for b b :

b=−183 b = \frac{-18}{3}

The solution is:

b=−6 b = -6

Therefore, the solution to the equation is b=−6 b = -6 , corresponding to choice 1.

Answer

−6 -6

Exercise #15

6x+18+2x=6−4 6x+18+2x=6-4

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

The equation we need to solve is 6x+18+2x=6−4 6x + 18 + 2x = 6 - 4 .

Step 1: Simplify each side of the equation.
On the left side, we have two like terms involving x x : 6x 6x and 2x 2x . We can combine these terms:

6x+2x=8x 6x + 2x = 8x .

Thus, the equation becomes:

8x+18=6−4 8x + 18 = 6 - 4 .

On the right side, simplify 6−4 6 - 4 to get:

2 2 .

The equation now reads:

8x+18=2 8x + 18 = 2 .

Step 2: Isolate the variable x x .
Subtract 18 from both sides to move the constant term on the right side:

8x+18−18=2−18 8x + 18 - 18 = 2 - 18 .

This simplifies to:

8x=−16 8x = -16 .

Next, divide both sides by 8 to solve for x x :

x=−168 x = \frac{-16}{8} .

This simplifies to:

x=−2 x = -2 .

Therefore, the solution to the equation 6x+18+2x=6−4 6x + 18 + 2x = 6 - 4 is x=−2 x = -2 .

Answer

−2 -2

Exercise #16

Solve for X:

5−3x=8x−17 5-3x=8x-17

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

To solve this linear equation, follow these steps:

  • Step 1: Move all terms involving x x to one side of the equation.
  • Step 2: Move constant terms to the opposite side.
  • Step 3: Simplify the equation to isolate x x .
  • Step 4: Solve for x x by dividing by its coefficient.

Let's work through it:

Start with the given equation:
5−3x=8x−17 5 - 3x = 8x - 17

Step 1: Add 3x 3x to both sides to move all x x terms to the right side:
5=11x−17 5 = 11x - 17

Step 2: Add 17 17 to both sides to move the constants to the left side:
22=11x 22 = 11x

Step 3 & 4: Divide both sides by 11 11 to isolate x x :
x=2211 x = \frac{22}{11}

Simplifying the fraction gives:
x=2 x = 2

Hence, the solution to the problem is x=2 x = 2 .

Answer

2

Exercise #17

Solve for X:

3x−5=4x+11 3x-5=4x+11

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

To solve this problem, we will follow a series of algebraic steps:

  • Step 1: Begin with the equation 3x−5=4x+11 3x - 5 = 4x + 11 .
  • Step 2: Subtract 3x 3x from both sides to start isolating the variable x x on one side:
    −5=4x−3x+11-5 = 4x - 3x + 11.
  • Step 3: Simplify the right side:
    −5=x+11-5 = x + 11.
  • Step 4: Subtract 11 from both sides to isolate x x :
    −5−11=x-5 - 11 = x.
  • Step 5: Simplify the left side:
    −16=x-16 = x.

Thus, the solution to the problem is x=−16 x = -16 .

Answer

-16

Exercise #18

Solve for x:

−9−x=3+2x -9-x=3+2x

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

To solve the equation, we will move similar elements to one side.

On the right side, we place the elements with X, while in the left side we place the elements without X.

Remember that when we move sides, the plus and minus signs change accordingly, so we get:

−9−3=2x+x -9-3=2x+x

We calculate both sides:−12=3x -12=3x

Finally, divide both sides by 3:

−123=3x3 -\frac{12}{3}=\frac{3x}{3}

−4=x -4=x

Answer

-4

Exercise #19

Solve for X:

−22x+35−4x=31−8+10x -22x+35-4x=31-8+10x

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

Let's solve the equation step by step:

Given equation: −22x+35−4x=31−8+10x -22x + 35 - 4x = 31 - 8 + 10x .

First, simplify both sides by combining like terms.

On the left side:

  • Combine all terms with x x : −22x−4x=−26x -22x - 4x = -26x .
  • The constant term remains: +35 +35 .
  • So, the left side simplifies to: −26x+35 -26x + 35 .

On the right side:

  • Simplify constants: 31−8=23 31 - 8 = 23 .
  • The term with x x remains: +10x +10x .
  • So, the right side simplifies to: 23+10x 23 + 10x .

The equation now is: −26x+35=23+10x -26x + 35 = 23 + 10x .

Next, move all terms involving x x to one side and constant terms to the other side:

  • Subtract 10x 10x from both sides: −26x−10x+35=23 -26x - 10x + 35 = 23 .
  • Combine like terms: −36x+35=23 -36x + 35 = 23 .

Now, isolate the x x term:

  • Subtract 35 from both sides: −36x=23−35 -36x = 23 - 35 .
  • Simplify the constants: −36x=−12 -36x = -12 .

Finally, solve for x x by dividing both sides by −36-36:

  • x=−12−36 x = \frac{-12}{-36} .
  • Which simplifies to: x=13 x = \frac{1}{3} .

Therefore, the solution to the problem is x=13 x = \frac{1}{3} .

Answer

13 \frac{1}{3}

Exercise #20

Solve for X:

54x−36x+34=39+5x−18 54x-36x+34=39+5x-18

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

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

  • Step 1: Simplify both sides of the given equation.
  • Step 2: Isolate the variable x x on one side of the equation.
  • Step 3: Solve for x x .

Now, let's work through each step:

Step 1: Simplify both sides of the equation.

The original equation is 54x−36x+34=39+5x−18 54x - 36x + 34 = 39 + 5x - 18 .

On the left side, combine like terms: 54x−36x=18x 54x - 36x = 18x .

So, the equation becomes 18x+34=39+5x−18 18x + 34 = 39 + 5x - 18 .

Simplify the right side: 39−18=21 39 - 18 = 21 .

This gives us 18x+34=21+5x 18x + 34 = 21 + 5x .

Step 2: Isolate the variable x x on one side.

Subtract 5x 5x from both sides to get all x x terms on one side:

18x−5x+34=21 18x - 5x + 34 = 21 .

This simplifies to 13x+34=21 13x + 34 = 21 .

Subtract 34 from both sides to move constant terms to the other side:

13x=21−34 13x = 21 - 34 .

This simplifies to 13x=−13 13x = -13 .

Step 3: Solve for x x .

Divide both sides by 13 to solve for x x :

x=−1313 x = \frac{-13}{13} .

This simplifies to x=−1 x = -1 .

Therefore, the solution to the problem is x=−1 x = -1 .

Answer

−1 -1