Solve the equation below.
$\frac{x}{-3}=-8-(-2)$
Answer (1)
Simplify the right side of the equation: − 8 − ( − 2 ) = − 8 + 2 = − 6 .
Multiply both sides of the equation by − 3 to isolate x : x = − 3 × ( − 6 ) .
Calculate the value of x : x = 18 .
The solution to the equation is: 18 .
Explanation
Understanding the equation We are given the equation − 3 x = − 8 − ( − 2 ) and we need to solve for x . Let's start by simplifying the right side of the equation.
Simplifying the right side First, we simplify the right side of the equation: − 8 − ( − 2 ) = − 8 + 2 .
Calculating the value Now, we calculate − 8 + 2 = − 6 . So the equation becomes − 3 x = − 6 .
Isolating x To isolate x , we multiply both sides of the equation by − 3 : x = − 3 × ( − 6 ) .
Calculating x Finally, we calculate the value of x : x = − 3 × ( − 6 ) = 18 .
Final Answer Therefore, the solution to the equation is x = 18 .
Examples
Imagine you're sharing a pizza with friends. If you owe someone 1/3 of the pizza ( 3 1 ), and that amount is equivalent to owing 6 slices, you can use this type of equation to find out how many total slices are in the pizza. In this case, if − 3 x = − 6 , where x represents the total slices, solving for x tells you the pizza has 18 slices. This concept applies to various scenarios where you need to find a total quantity based on a fractional part.
