Question

What error did Malik make first when solving the equation ?

Malik did not multiply correctly.
Malik added 240 to each side of the equation.
Malik did not multiply correctly.
Malik substituted 60 for y instead of x.

Answer 1

I don’t have Malik’s equation or his work, so I can’t tell which error he made first. Could you paste the original equation and Malik’s solution steps (or a photo of them)?

If you can’t, here’s how to decide quickly:
- Compare the original equation to Malik’s first transformed line. If a sign or coefficient is wrong when distributing or multiplying both sides, the error is “did not multiply correctly.”
- If he added 240 to one side but not the other (or added 240 to both sides when he shouldn’t have), that points to “added 240 to each side of the equation.”
- If a number (60) appears in place of a variable, check whether he substituted for x or y; if he put 60 where x should be but it was y, then “substituted 60 for y instead of x.”

Send Malik’s steps and I’ll identify the first mistake.