Solve the equation: \(-3x + 25 + x + 21 = 2\)

Please explain the steps, as I am really confused.

The reason it's so confusing is because the left side is cut up into so many pieces. If you put the pieces together first, it'll look a lot neater, and it'll be a lot easier to solve.
Look at just the left side. We're just going to clean up what's already there. We won't do anything to change its value, so we don't have to worry yet about doing the same things to the other side.
Look at the terms that are just plain numbers. There's a +25 and a +21. Those go together to make +46 .
Now look at the terms that have 'x' in them. There's a -3x and a +x. Those add up to make -2x .
What we just did is called "combine like terms". Add up the plain numbers, and add up the terms with 'x' in them.
So now the equation says: 46 - 2x = 2
Subtract 46 from each side: -2x = -44
Divide each side by -2 : *** x = 22 ***
Once you clean it up, it goes really fast.

Answered by AL2006 | 2024-06-10

− 3 x + 25 + x + 21 = 2 ∣ A dd s imi l a r f a c t ors − 2 x + 46 = 2 ∣ S u b t r a c t 46 − 2 x = − 44 ∣ D i v i d e b y − 2 x = 22 S o l u t i o n i s x = 22.

Answered by luana | 2024-06-10

To solve the equation − 3 x + 25 + x + 21 = 2 , first combine like terms on the left side to get − 2 x + 46 = 2 . Then, isolate x by moving constants to the other side, leading to the solution x = 22 .
;

Answered by AL2006 | 2025-04-14