Solve for x: 4x - 7 = 2x + 9.

Solve for x: 4x - 7 = 2x + 9.

• A. 6
• B. 8
• C. 9
• D. 7

Answer: (B)

To solve this, isolate x by using inverse operations. Start by removing the x-term on the right from the left: subtract 2x from both sides to get 2x - 7 = 9. Next, move the constant term to the left by adding 7 to both sides, giving 2x = 16. Then divide by 2 to solve for x, which yields x = 8. Verifying by substitution shows both sides equal: 4x - 7 becomes 32 - 7 = 25, and 2x + 9 becomes 16 + 9 = 25. This confirms x = 8 is the value that satisfies the equation. Other values don’t work because they don’t make the two sides equal; for example, x = 6 would give 17 on the left and 21 on the right.

To solve this, isolate x by using inverse operations. Start by removing the x-term on the right from the left: subtract 2x from both sides to get 2x - 7 = 9. Next, move the constant term to the left by adding 7 to both sides, giving 2x = 16. Then divide by 2 to solve for x, which yields x = 8. Verifying by substitution shows both sides equal: 4x - 7 becomes 32 - 7 = 25, and 2x + 9 becomes 16 + 9 = 25. This confirms x = 8 is the value that satisfies the equation. Other values don’t work because they don’t make the two sides equal; for example, x = 6 would give 17 on the left and 21 on the right.