Solving Equations Using the Distributive Property

Let's first expand the parentheses using the formula:

$a(x+b)=ax+ab$

$(2\times x)+(2\times4)+8=0$

$2x+8+8=0$

Next, we will substitute in our terms accordingly:

$2x+16=0$

Then, we will move the 16 to the left-hand side, keeping the appropriate sign:

$2x=-16$

Finally, we divide both sides by 2:

$\frac{2x}{2}=-\frac{16}{2}$

$x=-8$

To open parentheses we will use the formula:

$a(x+b)=ax+ab$

$(7\times-2x)+(7\times5)=77$

We multiply accordingly

$-14x+35=77$

We will move the 35 to the right section and change the sign accordingly:

$-14x=77-35$

We solve the subtraction exercise on the right side and we will obtain:

$-14x=42$

We divide both sections by -14

$\frac{-14x}{-14}=\frac{42}{-14}$

$x=-3$

We open the parentheses according to the formula:

$a(x+b)=ax+ab$

$5\times x+5\times3=0$

$5x+15=0$

We will move the 15 to the right section and keep the corresponding sign:

$5x=-15$

Divide both sections by 5

$\frac{5x}{5}=\frac{-15}{5}$

$x=-3$

We open the parentheses on the left side by the distributive property and use the formula:

$a(x+b)=ax+ab$

$-\frac{3}{2}x-12=\frac{1}{2}$

We multiply all terms by 2 to get rid of the fractions:

$-3x-12\times2=1$

$-3x-24=1$

We will move the minus 24 to the right section and keep the corresponding sign:

$-3x=24+1$

$-3x=25$

Divide both sections by minus 3:

$\frac{-3x}{-3}=\frac{25}{-3}$

$x=-\frac{25}{3}$

To open the parentheses on the left side, we'll use the formula:

$-a\left(b+c\right)=-ab-ac$

$-12a-24=27a$

We'll arrange the equation so that the terms with 'a' are on the right side, and maintain the plus and minus signs during the transfer:

$-24=27a+12a$

Let's group the terms on the right side:

$-24=39a$

Let's divide both sides by 39:

$-\frac{24}{39}=\frac{39a}{39}$

$-\frac{24}{39}=a$

Note that we can reduce the fraction since both numerator and denominator are divisible by 3:

$-\frac{8}{13}=a$