Pre-Algebra Examples

$2 - (17 - 5 x) = 9 x - (x + 7)$

Step 1

Since $x$ is on the right side of the equation, switch the sides so it is on the left side of the equation.

$9 x - (x + 7) = 2 - (17 - 5 x)$

Step 2

Simplify $9 x - (x + 7)$ .

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Step 2.1

Simplify each term.

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Step 2.1.1

Apply the distributive property.

$9 x - x - 1 \cdot 7 = 2 - (17 - 5 x)$

Step 2.1.2

Multiply $- 1$ by $7$ .

$9 x - x - 7 = 2 - (17 - 5 x)$

Step 2.2

Subtract $x$ from $9 x$ .

$8 x - 7 = 2 - (17 - 5 x)$

Step 3

Simplify $2 - (17 - 5 x)$ .

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Step 3.1

Simplify each term.

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Step 3.1.1

Apply the distributive property.

$8 x - 7 = 2 - 1 \cdot 17 - (- 5 x)$

Step 3.1.2

Multiply $- 1$ by $17$ .

$8 x - 7 = 2 - 17 - (- 5 x)$

Step 3.1.3

Multiply $- 5$ by $- 1$ .

$8 x - 7 = 2 - 17 + 5 x$

Step 3.2

Subtract $17$ from $2$ .

$8 x - 7 = - 15 + 5 x$

Step 4

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

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Step 4.1

Subtract $5 x$ from both sides of the equation.

$8 x - 7 - 5 x = - 15$

Step 4.2

Subtract $5 x$ from $8 x$ .

$3 x - 7 = - 15$

Step 5

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

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Step 5.1

Add $7$ to both sides of the equation.

$3 x = - 15 + 7$

Step 5.2

Add $- 15$ and $7$ .

$3 x = - 8$

Step 6

Divide each term in $3 x = - 8$ by $3$ and simplify.

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Step 6.1

Divide each term in $3 x = - 8$ by $3$ .

$\frac{3 x}{3} = \frac{- 8}{3}$

Step 6.2

Simplify the left side.

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Step 6.2.1

Cancel the common factor of $3$ .

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Step 6.2.1.1

Cancel the common factor.

$\frac{3 x}{3} = \frac{- 8}{3}$

Step 6.2.1.2

Divide $x$ by $1$ .

$x = \frac{- 8}{3}$

Step 6.3

Simplify the right side.

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Step 6.3.1

Move the negative in front of the fraction.

$x = - \frac{8}{3}$

Step 7

The result can be shown in multiple forms.

Exact Form:

$x = - \frac{8}{3}$

Decimal Form:

$x = - 2.\overline{6}$

Mixed Number Form:

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