To transform the equation \(-10x + 13 + 12x = 5x - 8\) into the form \(x = a\), where \(a\) is a number, we can take the following steps:
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Combine like terms on the left side: \(-10x + 12x\) simplifies to \(2x\), so the equation becomes: \[ 2x + 13 = 5x - 8 \]
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Next, we want to isolate \(x\). We could choose multiple ways to do this. Here are two effective options:
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Subtract \(5x\) from both sides of the equation: This gives us: \[ 2x - 5x + 13 = -8 \quad \Rightarrow \quad -3x + 13 = -8 \]
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Subtract \(13\) from both sides of the equation: This gives us: \[ 2x + 13 - 13 = 5x - 8 - 13 \quad \Rightarrow \quad 2x = 5x - 21 \]
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Thus, the two selected steps that could be used to transform the equation into the form \(x = a\) are:
- Add \(8\) to both sides of the equation and then simplify
- Subtract \(10x\) from both sides of the equation and then simplify
However, please note that the steps presented in the original question may involve some incorrect references to combining terms (like \(10x + 12x\) instead of referencing the original terms). Nonetheless, the essence of the operations leading to simplifications and isolations of \(x\) remains the same.