Question

find the solution of the equation 3(x-4)=18 and provide an alternative method to solve it

Answer 1

To solve the equation \(3(x - 4) = 18\), we can use the standard method of isolating \(x\).

### Method 1: Direct Solution
1. **Distribute the 3**:
\[
3x - 12 = 18
\]

2. **Add 12 to both sides** to isolate the term with \(x\):
\[
3x = 18 + 12
\]
\[
3x = 30
\]

3. **Divide by 3**:
\[
x = \frac{30}{3}
\]
\[
x = 10
\]

So the solution is \(x = 10\).

### Method 2: Alternative Method (Divide by 3 First)
1. **Divide both sides by 3** to simplify the equation right away:
\[
x - 4 = \frac{18}{3}
\]
\[
x - 4 = 6
\]

2. **Add 4 to both sides**:
\[
x = 6 + 4
\]
\[
x = 10
\]

Again, the solution is \(x = 10\).

Both methods yield the same result.