Solve using inverse operations. Use the sketch pad to show your work: -4+2b=-40

Answer 1

To solve the equation \(-4 + 2b = -40\) using inverse operations, we can follow these steps:

1. Add 4 to both sides of the equation to isolate the term with \(b\) on one side:

   \[ -4 + 2b + 4 = -40 + 4 \] \[ 2b = -36 \]

2. Divide both sides by 2 to solve for \(b\):

   \[ \frac{2b}{2} = \frac{-36}{2} \] \[ b = -18 \]

So, the solution to the equation \(-4 + 2b = -40\) is \(b = -18\).

If you were to use a sketch pad, you could represent each of these steps visually, showing the balance of the equation at each stage. You could diagrammatically show adding 4 to both sides, and then dividing both sides by 2, visualizing how each operation maintains the balance of the equation.