Basic Algebra

Using “x” When you’re faced with a question: 2x-4=12, no need to freak out! I’ll help you!

#1: “Forever Alone” I say “forever alone” because we need to get that 2x by itself. That -4 needs to get moved to the other side. So since it’s 2x-4=12, you add 4 to each side. Thus, cancelling out the negative 4 and adding 4 to the other side of the equation. Therefore, your equation then becomes: 2x=16.

#2: “Remove the 3rd Wheel” Now you’re stuck with 2x=16. But the question doesn’t ask you to find 2x, it asks you to find x. Since 2x is another way to say 2 times x, you know that to oppose a multiplication is to divide it. So you divide 2x by 2 (2x/2) and then since you divided on one side, you have to do the same on the other side. So divide 16 by 2 and you get 8.

#3: Final Solution Now that you opposed the 2x, you cancelled out the 2 and now it’s just x. So your final answer is x=8.