Let's solve the equation \( 2(x + 8) = 2x + 8 \) step by step, justifying each action:
Step 1: Distribute
Property Used: Distribution Property
We apply the distributive property to the left-hand side:
\[ 2(x + 8) = 2x + 16 \]
Now the equation looks like this:
\[ 2x + 16 = 2x + 8 \]
Step 2: Isolate the variable
Property Used: Subtraction Property of Equality
Next, we can subtract \( 2x \) from both sides to simplify:
\[ 2x + 16 - 2x = 2x + 8 - 2x \]
This simplifies to:
\[ 16 = 8 \]
Step 3: Conclusion
This statement \( 16 = 8 \) is a contradiction, indicating that there is no solution to the equation.
In summary:
- For Step 1, we used the Distribution Property.
- For Step 2, we used the Subtraction Property of Equality.
Thus, there is no solution to the equation since it leads to a false statement.