Expert: Paul Klarreich - 6/12/2006

Question
I'm not sure how to solve.(this is a math 1301) thanks
Charlene

Answer
Hi, Charlene,

You wrote:
Subject:  2-[4x-(1-2)]=9(x+4)
Question:  I'm not sure how to solve.(this is a math 1301) thanks

Ah! Math 1301.  That's the course that teaches you about Kleinian groups on differentiable manifolds, or something?  I remember it well.

But for your example

2-[4x-(1-2)]=9(x+4)

Are you sure this is entered correctly?  The  "1-2" expression looks strange.  

Please check and resend it.  Of course, you might figure it out after the correction.  You would remove parentheses and simplify, like this:

2-[4x-(1-2)]=9(x+4)  << innermost parentheses on each side first:

2-[4x-1+2]=9x+36    << now simplify inside

2-[4x+1]=9x+36    << now remove again.

2 - 4x - 1 = 9x + 36  << now simplify

 1 - 4x = 9x + 36   << now combine like terms across the equal sign:
-36 + 4x  +4x - 36
-------------------
-35      = 13x

Now divide and it's  x = -35/13  IF YOU WROTE IT RIGHT.