Mikayla and Jesse both solved the equation x−15=12−8

Question

, using substitution. Mikayla says the answer is x=19
, and Jesse says the answer is x=27
. Which student is correct, and how do you know? Show your work and explain your thinking.

Answer 1

Let's solve the equation \( x - 15 = 12 - 8 \) step by step to determine which student's answer is correct.

1. Simplify the right side of the equation: \[ 12 - 8 = 4 \] So, the equation now reads: \[ x - 15 = 4 \]

2. Solve for \( x \): To isolate \( x \), we can add 15 to both sides of the equation: \[ x - 15 + 15 = 4 + 15 \] This simplifies to: \[ x = 19 \]

Mikayla said the answer is \( x = 19 \), while Jesse said it is \( x = 27 \).

Based on our calculations, the correct answer is: \[ \boxed{19} \]

Thus, Mikayla is correct. Jesse's answer of \( x = 27 \) is incorrect, and can be noted that it does not satisfy the equation \( x - 15 = 4 \).