Question

When the equation a – bx = cx + d is solved for x, the result is x = StartFraction a minus d Over b plus c EndFraction..

Use the general solution to solve 5 – 6x = 8x + 17.

Answer 1

Here a = 5, b = 6, c = 8, d = 17. Using x = (a − d)/(b + c):

x = (5 − 17)/(6 + 8) = (−12)/14 = −6/7.

Check: 5 − 6(−6/7) = 5 + 36/7 = 71/7 and 8(−6/7) + 17 = −48/7 + 119/7 = 71/7. So x = −6/7.