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Question 6 of 10

Which would not be a step in solving 18 = 2(4 + x)?
A. Isolate the variable.
B. Collect variable terms on one side.
C. Use the distributive property.
D. Collect like terms.

1 answer

To solve the equation \(18 = 2(4 + x)\), let's analyze the steps that would typically be involved:

  1. Use the distributive property (Option C): You would distribute the 2 to both terms inside the parentheses, resulting in \(18 = 8 + 2x\).

  2. Collect like terms (Option D): After distributing, you would typically rearrange the equation to combine constants and variable terms.

  3. Isolate the variable (Option A): You'd move constants to one side and isolate \(x\) on the other side of the equation.

  4. Collect variable terms on one side (Option B): This step is related to isolating the variable, as part of the process would involve grouping \(x\) terms together.

Given this breakdown, all options except for B (Collect variable terms on one side) do directly correspond to necessary steps in solving the equation. While B is somewhat relevant, it is less specific than the actual steps needed for solving this particular equation.

Thus, the answer is:

B. Collect variable terms on one side.