Examples with solutions for Simplifying and Combining Like Terms: Equations with variables on both sides

Exercise #1

8b=6 8-b=6

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

We will move terms so that on the left side of the equation, minus b remains

And to the right side, we will move 8 and make sure to keep the plus and minus signs accordingly:

b=68 -b=6-8

We will subtract accordingly:

b=2 -b=-2

We will divide both sides by minus 1 and be careful with the plus and minus signs when dividing by a negative:

b1=21 \frac{-b}{-1}=\frac{-2}{-1}

b=2 b=2

Answer

2 2

Exercise #2

Solve for x:

5+x=3 5+x=3

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

We will rearrange the equation so that x remains on the left side and we will move similar elements to the right side.

Remember that when we move a positive number, it will become a negative number, so we will get:

x=35 x=3-5

x=2 x=-2

Answer

-2

Exercise #3

Solve for x:

8(2x)=16 8(-2-x)=16

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

First, we divide both sections by 8:

8(2x)8=168 \frac{8(-2-x)}{8}=\frac{16}{8}

Keep in mind that the 8 in the fraction of the left section is reduced, so the equation we get is:

2x=2 -2-x=2

We move the minus 2 to the right section and maintain the plus and minus signs accordingly:

x=2+2 -x=2+2

x=4 -x=4

We divide both sides by minus 1 and maintain the plus and minus signs accordingly when we divide:

x1=41 \frac{-x}{-1}=\frac{4}{-1}

x=4 x=-4

Answer

-4

Exercise #4

Solve for x:

9x=3+2x -9-x=3+2x

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

To solve the equation, we will move similar elements to one side.

On the right side, we place the elements with X, while in the left side we place the elements without X.

Remember that when we move sides, the plus and minus signs change accordingly, so we get:

93=2x+x -9-3=2x+x

We calculate both sides:12=3x -12=3x

Finally, divide both sides by 3:

123=3x3 -\frac{12}{3}=\frac{3x}{3}

4=x -4=x

Answer

-4

Exercise #5

Solve for x:

3(x+1)+5x4=3+5(x1) -3(x+1)+5x-4=-3+5(x-1)

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

First, we will expand the parentheses on both sides:

3x3+5x4=3+5x5 -3x-3+5x-4=-3+5x-5

Enter the like terms in both sections. Let's start with the left section:

3x+5x=2x -3x+5x=2x

34=7 -3-4=-7

Calculate the like terms on the right side:

35=8 -3-5=-8

Now, we obtain the equation:

2x7=8+5x 2x-7=-8+5x

To the right side we will move the members without the X, while to the left side we move those with the X, keeping the plus and minus signs as appropriate:

2x5x=8+7 2x-5x=-8+7

3x=1 -3x=-1

Finally, we divide both sides by -3:

13=3x3 \frac{-1}{-3}=\frac{-3x}{-3}

13=x \frac{1}{3}=x

Answer

13 \frac{1}{3}

Exercise #6

Solve for x:

8+x3(x2)=5(2+x)4+3x -8+x-3(x-2)=5(2+x)-4+3x

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

First, we will expand the parentheses on both sides by multiplying their contents by the number outside:

8+x3×x+(3)×(2)=5×2+5×x4+3x -8+x-3\times x+(-3)\times(-2)=5\times2+5\times x-4+3x

8+x3x+6=10+5x4+3x -8+x-3x+6=10+5x-4+3x

Now we collect like terms on both sides:

22x=6+8x -2-2x=6+8x

We move 8x to the left and -2 to the right side, remembering to leave the plus and minus signs unchanged accordingly:

2x8x=6+2 -2x-8x=6+2

We add the terms together:

10x=8 -10x=8

Finally, we divide both sides by negative 10:

10x10=810 \frac{-10x}{-10}=\frac{8}{-10}

x=810 x=-\frac{8}{10}

Answer

810 -\frac{8}{10}

Exercise #7

x+x=8 x+x=8

Video Solution

Answer

4

Exercise #8

16+a=17 -16+a=-17

Video Solution

Answer

1 -1

Exercise #9

2+4y2y=4 2+4y-2y=4

Video Solution

Answer

1 1

Exercise #10

Solve for X:

3+x=8 -3+x=-8

Video Solution

Answer

-5

Exercise #11

Solve for X:

3=5x 3=5-x

Video Solution

Answer

2

Exercise #12

Solve for X:

3x=4 -3-x=4

Video Solution

Answer

-7

Exercise #13

19=3a6+4a2a 19=3a-6+4a-2a

Video Solution

Answer

5 5

Exercise #14

y+103y=150 y+10-3y=-150

Video Solution

Answer

80 80

Exercise #15

y423=8 y-4\frac{2}{3}=8

Video Solution

Answer

1223 12\frac{2}{3}

Exercise #16

3x18+2x=32 3x-18+2x=32

Video Solution

Answer

10 10

Exercise #17

2b+16+b=2 2b+16+b=-2

Video Solution

Answer

6 -6

Exercise #18

6x+18+2x=64 6x+18+2x=6-4

Video Solution

Answer

2 -2

Exercise #19

Solve for X:

53x=8x17 5-3x=8x-17

Video Solution

Answer

2

Exercise #20

Solve for X:

3x5=4x+11 3x-5=4x+11

Video Solution

Answer

-16