16Hit1600
AlgebraVery hardConstant that makes an equation an identity

Algebra practice question

The equation 3(x + a) − 2(x − 4) = x + 20 is true for every value of x. What is the value of a?

Answer: 4

The left side is x + 3a + 8, which equals x + 20 for all x only when 3a + 8 = 20, so a = 4.

Common wrong answers

If you answered 12
12 is 3a, not a.
If you answered 28
28 adds 8 instead of subtracting.
If you answered -4
−4 subtracts 8 with the wrong sign.

More Algebra questions

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