Question

4x + 12 + 2x = 5x - 2
6x + 12 = 5x - 2
1x + 12 = - 2
1x = -14
x = -14
Identify the step in which the mistake was made
Then provide a correction to that step (you do not need to solve the remainder of the problem).

Answer 1

There is no mistake — each step is algebraically correct.

Work check:
- 4x + 12 + 2x = 5x - 2 → combine like terms on left: 6x + 12 = 5x - 2 (correct)
- Subtract 5x: x + 12 = -2 (correct)
- Subtract 12: x = -14 (correct)

You can verify by substitution: left = 4(-14)+12+2(-14) = -56+12-28 = -72; right = 5(-14)-2 = -70-2 = -72. Both sides match, so no correction is needed.