Question

write an equivalent expression.

1/3(12x + 6x -21) = ___x - ___

Answer 1

To simplify the expression \( \frac{1}{3}(12x + 6x - 21) \), we can first combine the terms inside the parentheses.

1. Combine the like terms \( 12x + 6x \):
\[
12x + 6x = 18x
\]

2. Substitute back into the expression:
\[
\frac{1}{3}(18x - 21)
\]

3. Now distribute \( \frac{1}{3} \) to both terms:
\[
\frac{1}{3} \cdot 18x - \frac{1}{3} \cdot 21
\]

- For \( \frac{1}{3} \cdot 18x \):
\[
= 6x
\]

- For \( \frac{1}{3} \cdot 21 \):
\[
= 7
\]

4. Putting it all together:
\[
6x - 7
\]

So the equivalent expression is:
\[
6x - 7
\]

Final answer:
\[
6x - 7
\]