Chapter 2.3, Problem 34P

Reasoning Suppose you want to solve $-5=6x+3+7x.$

What would you do as your first step? Explain.

To determine

To determine the first step in solving the given equation.

Answer to Problem 34P

First step would be bringing all like variables and constants together.

  $\left(-5-3\right)=\left(6x+7x\right)$

Explanation of Solution

Given information :

Equation is $-5=6x+3+7x$

In the first step of solving the given equation we shall bring together all the like variables and constants so that we can apply operation on them on the next step.

Therefore the first step would be,

  $\begin{array}{l}-5=6x+3+7x\\ \left(-5-3\right)=\left(6x+7x\right)\end{array}$