Tille is solving an equation for x. Her first step is to subtract 8 from both sides if the equation which equation is she solving?

12 - x = -8

12 - x = 8

12 = -x -8

12 = -x + 8

1 answer

To determine which equation Tille is solving by subtracting 8 from both sides, we can analyze each option:

  1. 12 - x = -8

    • If Tille subtracts 8 from both sides: \[ 12 - x - 8 = -8 - 8 \] This simplifies to: \[ 4 - x = -16 \]
  2. 12 - x = 8

    • If Tille subtracts 8 from both sides: \[ 12 - x - 8 = 8 - 8 \] This simplifies to: \[ 4 - x = 0 \] or \[ 12 - x - 8 = 0 \]
  3. 12 = -x - 8

    • If Tille subtracts 8 from both sides: \[ 12 - 8 = -x - 8 \] This simplifies to: \[ 4 = -x - 8 \]
  4. 12 = -x + 8

    • If Tille subtracts 8 from both sides: \[ 12 - 8 = -x + 8 \] This simplifies to: \[ 4 = -x + 8 \]

Now, Note that the first equation \(12 - x = -8\) yields \(4 - x = -16\) after Tille's operation. However, it can be inferred that the most likely equation where subtracting 8 would immediately yield an equation is 12 - x = 8 as it directly becomes 4 - x = 0 after subtracting 8, simplifying either to \(x = 4\) or confirming \(- x = -4\) implying that she might be trying to balance them positively without complications.

The conclusion is that the equation Tille is most likely trying to solve is:

12 - x = 8.