Algebra Examples

$3 (a - 2) - (a + 6) = 4 (a - 1)$

Step 1

Simplify $3 (a - 2) - (a + 6)$ .

Tap for more steps...

Step 1.1

Simplify each term.

Tap for more steps...

Step 1.1.1

Apply the distributive property.

$3 a + 3 \cdot - 2 - (a + 6) = 4 (a - 1)$

Step 1.1.2

Multiply $3$ by $- 2$ .

$3 a - 6 - (a + 6) = 4 (a - 1)$

Step 1.1.3

Apply the distributive property.

$3 a - 6 - a - 1 \cdot 6 = 4 (a - 1)$

Step 1.1.4

Multiply $- 1$ by $6$ .

$3 a - 6 - a - 6 = 4 (a - 1)$

Step 1.2

Simplify by adding terms.

Tap for more steps...

Step 1.2.1

Subtract $a$ from $3 a$ .

$2 a - 6 - 6 = 4 (a - 1)$

Step 1.2.2

Subtract $6$ from $- 6$ .

$2 a - 12 = 4 (a - 1)$

Step 2

Simplify $4 (a - 1)$ .

Tap for more steps...

Step 2.1

Apply the distributive property.

$2 a - 12 = 4 a + 4 \cdot - 1$

Step 2.2

Multiply $4$ by $- 1$ .

$2 a - 12 = 4 a - 4$

Step 3

Move all terms containing $a$ to the left side of the equation.

Tap for more steps...

Step 3.1

Subtract $4 a$ from both sides of the equation.

$2 a - 12 - 4 a = - 4$

Step 3.2

Subtract $4 a$ from $2 a$ .

$- 2 a - 12 = - 4$

Step 4

Move all terms not containing $a$ to the right side of the equation.

Tap for more steps...

Step 4.1

Add $12$ to both sides of the equation.

$- 2 a = - 4 + 12$

Step 4.2

Add $- 4$ and $12$ .

$- 2 a = 8$

Step 5

Divide each term in $- 2 a = 8$ by $- 2$ and simplify.

Tap for more steps...

Step 5.1

Divide each term in $- 2 a = 8$ by $- 2$ .

$\frac{- 2 a}{- 2} = \frac{8}{- 2}$

Step 5.2

Simplify the left side.

Tap for more steps...

Step 5.2.1

Cancel the common factor of $- 2$ .

Tap for more steps...

Step 5.2.1.1

Cancel the common factor.

$\frac{- 2 a}{- 2} = \frac{8}{- 2}$

Step 5.2.1.2

Divide $a$ by $1$ .

$a = \frac{8}{- 2}$

Step 5.3

Simplify the right side.

Tap for more steps...

Step 5.3.1

Divide $8$ by $- 2$ .

$a = - 4$