How do you solve #4(x-1)+3=18#?

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Answer 1 · 2017-01-07T14:45:41

See entire solution process below:

First, expand the terms within the parenthesis by multiplying each of the them by the term outside the parenthesis - #color(red)(4)#:

#color(red)(4)(x - 1) + 3 = 18#

#(color(red)(4) xx x) - (color(red)(4) xx 1) + 3 = 18#

#4x - 4 + 3 = 18#

We can now add the constants on the left side of the equation:

#4x - 1 = 18#

Next, we can add #color(red)(1)# to each side of the equation to isolate the #x# term while keeping the equation balanced:

#4x - 1 +color(red)(1) = 18 + color(red)(1)#

#4x - 0 = 19#

#4x = 19#

Now we can divide each side of the equation by #color(red)(4)# to solve for #x#

#(4x)/color(red)(4) = 19/color(red)(4)#

#(color(red)(cancel(color(black)(4)))x)/cancel(color(red)(4)) = 19/4#

#x = 19/4#