Chase is solving the equation 3x + 2 (x + 4) = 36. His steps are shown below. What mistake did Chase make while solving?

Question

3x + 2 (x + 4) = 36
3x + 2x + 8 = 36
5x + 8 = 36
5x = 36 + 8
5x = 44
5x/5 = 44/5
x = 8.8
A. Chase should have subtracted 5 from both sides of the equation rather than dividing.
B. Chase should have added 5 to both sides of the equation rather than subtracting.
C. Chase did everything correctly.
D. Chase should have subtracted 8 from both sides of the equation.

Answer 1

D. Chase should have subtracted 8 from both sides of the equation.

After combining like terms in the second step (3x + 2x), Chase should have subtracted 8 from both sides to isolate the variable x. Chase instead added 8 to both sides, which led to the incorrect solution x = 8.8.