Question

Combine like terms. Then, solve for x.
3 - 2x + 7 = 2
[?] - 2x = 23 (3 + 7 goes in the [?])
x = [?]

Answer 1

Let's start by combining like terms in the equation \(3 - 2x + 7 = 2\).

1. Combine the constants \(3\) and \(7\):
\[
3 + 7 = 10
\]
Therefore, the equation becomes:
\[
10 - 2x = 2
\]

2. Next, we will isolate the term with \(x\). Subtract \(10\) from both sides:
\[
-2x = 2 - 10
\]
Simplifying the right side gives:
\[
-2x = -8
\]

3. Now, divide both sides by \(-2\) to solve for \(x\):
\[
x = \frac{-8}{-2} = 4
\]

Now we need to fill in the missing parts of the original statement:
- The value that goes in the \([?]\) for \(3 + 7\) is \(10\).
- The value of \(x\) is \(4\).

Final answers:
- \([?] = 10\)
- \(x = 4\)