16Hit1600
AlgebraVery hardEquation with three distributed products

Algebra practice question

If 2(3x − 1) − 5(x + 2) = 3(x − 4), what is the value of x?

Answer: 0

The left side is x − 12 and the right side is 3x − 12, so x − 12 = 3x − 12 gives x = 0.

Common wrong answers

If you answered 3
3 solves x − 12 = 3x − 12 with an arithmetic slip.
If you answered 6
6 drops the sign on −5(x + 2).
If you answered -12
−12 is the constant on each side, not x.

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