How do you solve 2x-3+4x=21?

2 Answers
Principal
Aug 20, 2017

Combine like terms, and solve for the missing variable.

Answer: x=4

Explanation:

Simply start out by combining like terms. That includes any variables with coefficients (numbers in front of the letters), and any other terms. In this case, we can combine 2x and 4x to make 6, while -3 stands alone as the only number on the left side of the equation. Now we have:

6x-3=21

The following step would be to add 3 to each side to cancel out the -3 and to consolidate the variable.

6x=24

Now we simply divide by 6 to get the variable (which in this case is x) alone.

6/6x=24/6

These numbers divide evenly with each other to create a quotient such as x=4. Therefore, x=4 is our answer. However let's plug 4 back into the equation to see if both sides check out.

6(4)-3=21

6(4)=24

24-3=21

Does 21=21? Yes! So our verification checks out.

Answer: 4

Jumbotron
Aug 20, 2017

x = 4

Explanation:

2x - 3 + 4x = 21

6x - 3 = 21

6x = 21 + 3

6x = 24

x = 24/6

x = 4

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