Solve 4x − 9 = −5
Linear equation, worked out line by line the way a teacher would write it.
Answer
| Solution | x = 1 |
Step-by-step solution
5 steps-
1 Given4 x - 9 = -5
Solve for x.
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2 Add 9 to both sides
An equation stays true as long as you do the same thing to both sides, like adding the same weight to both pans of a balance. Adding or subtracting the same amount on both sides moves a term to the other side, where it appears with the opposite sign.
4 x = 4Move the constant terms to the right.
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3 Divide both sides by 4
Dividing both sides by 4 undoes the multiplication by 4, so the variable is left on its own. Both sides change in the same way, so the equation stays true (dividing by 0 is the one thing that is never allowed).
x = \frac{4}{4} -
4 Simplifyx = 1
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5 Check\begin{aligned}x = 1:\quad -5 = -5\quad\checkmark\end{aligned}
Substituting each solution back makes both sides equal.
Check by substitution
| x | Left side | Right side | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | −5 | −5 | ✓ |
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