Question

Solve the equation. Check your solution.
3 x minus 4 plus 3 x equals negative 403x−4+3x=−40

Answer 1

To solve the equation \( 3x - 4 + 3x = -40 \), we will start by combining like terms.

1. Combine \( 3x \) and \( 3x \):
\[
3x + 3x - 4 = -40
\]
This simplifies to:
\[
6x - 4 = -40
\]

2. Next, add 4 to both sides of the equation to isolate the term with \( x \):
\[
6x - 4 + 4 = -40 + 4
\]
This simplifies to:
\[
6x = -36
\]

3. Now, divide both sides by 6 to solve for \( x \):
\[
x = \frac{-36}{6}
\]
This simplifies to:
\[
x = -6
\]

Now we will check our solution by substituting \( x = -6 \) back into the original equation.

Substituting \( x = -6 \) into the left-hand side:
\[
3(-6) - 4 + 3(-6) = -18 - 4 - 18 = -40
\]

Since both sides of the equation are equal:
\[
-40 = -40
\]

The solution \( x = -6 \) is verified.

Therefore, the solution to the equation is:
\[
\boxed{-6}
\]