Simplifying Equations Examples Page 1

Solve the equation 4(1 - x) = 3(x + 1) - 2.

First, simplify each side to find the equivalent equation.

4 - 4x = 3x + 1

Step 3: Add 4x to each side to find that

4 = 7x + 1

and then subtract 1 from each side to find that

3 = 7x

We can conclude that $x = \frac{3}{7}$. We can also conclude that our lives are indeed easier now that we've kicked those parentheses to the curb.