Problem 32 - Algebra 1: Concepts and Skills

Question

Solve the equation. $$ 3 x+7=-2 $$

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

The solution to the equation \(3x +7 = -2\) is \(x = -3\).

Step 1: Isolate the term with the variable

To isolate \(x\), the first step would be to remove the 7 from the left side of the equation. This is done by subtracting 7 from both sides of the equation. This results in an equation \(3x + 7 - 7 = -2 - 7\) which simplifies to \(3x = -9\).

Step 2: Solve for the variable

To solve for \(x\), divide both sides of the equation by the coefficient of \(x\), which is 3. This gives an equation \(3x/3 = -9/3\), which simplifies to \(x = -3\).