Expert: Lynn Houston - 3/30/2010

Question
I am having trouble understanding  how to find the value of x in an equation. For example this problem seems  easy when i look at it but i have no clue how to go after it ! 2x+3 = 3x+4
 Can you tell me the formula for these types of  problems and possibly explain it in simple steps for me? I've been out of school now for about 10 years now and i am pretty much clueless as to how to approach any math problems lately !

Thanks in advanced for your help !

Answer
you have to isolate the variable (x) by "undoing" everything that has been done to it and whatever you do to one side of the equal sign, you have to do to the other.  The "opposite" of addition is subtraction, opposite of division is multiplication and vice versa.

2x+3 = 3x+4  subtract 4 from both sides
2x+3-4 = 3x+4-4
2x -1 = 3x  subtract 2x from both sides
2x - 2x - 1 = 3x -2x
-1 = x

Is it coming back to you?