Solve for x: 3x - 5 = 16.

Master the Praxis Mathematics (5165) Test. Enhance your skills with flashcards and practice questions, each with detailed explanations. Ace your exam confidently!

Multiple Choice

Solve for x: 3x - 5 = 16.

Explanation:
To solve a simple linear equation, you isolate the variable by undoing the operations on it. Here, undo the subtracting 5 by adding 5 to both sides: 3x = 21. Then undo the multiplication by 3 by dividing both sides by 3, which gives x = 7. Substituting back checks out: 3(7) - 5 = 16. Numbers like 4 or 9 or 11 wouldn’t work because they’d produce left-hand values such as 7, 22, or 28, not 16. The steps show why 7 is the correct solution.

To solve a simple linear equation, you isolate the variable by undoing the operations on it. Here, undo the subtracting 5 by adding 5 to both sides: 3x = 21. Then undo the multiplication by 3 by dividing both sides by 3, which gives x = 7. Substituting back checks out: 3(7) - 5 = 16. Numbers like 4 or 9 or 11 wouldn’t work because they’d produce left-hand values such as 7, 22, or 28, not 16. The steps show why 7 is the correct solution.

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