How do you check your answer on 8x equals 5x plus 24?

Answer 1

The technique for checking your solution for an equation is always the same:

-- Take the original equation.

-- Wherever you see 'x', put your solution there instead of 'x'.

-- After you substitute your solution for all of the 'x's, look at the whole equation

and see whether the statement is true.

Example:

8x = 5x + 24

If my solution is x=1, then I have

8(1) = 5(1) + 24 ===> 8 = 5+24

The left side is 8, the right side is 29. They're not equal. The statement is false.

So my solution is wrong. 'x' is not 1.

If my solution is x=4, then I have

8(4) = 5(4) + 24 ===> 32 = 20 + 24

The left side is 32, the right side is 44. They're not equal. The statement is false.

So my solution is wrong. 'x' is not 4.

If my solution is x=8, then I have

8(8) = 5(8) + 24 ===> 64 = 40 + 24

The left side is 64. The right side is 64. They're equal. The statement is true.

So my solution is correct. 'x' is 8.