Negative nine minus 7x = negative 5

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Question from gigi, a student:
what is negative nine minus 7x = negative 5

Gigi,

It may be clearer to ask:

IF (-9) - 7x = -5, what is x?

What you need to do is isolate the x by doing the same thing to both sides. I will show you on a similar problem, you work along on yours.

IF -7 + 2x = -11, what is x?

Add 7 to both sides:

2x = -4

You can probably see it by now, but if not divide both sides by 2:

x = -2

Good Hunting!
RD

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