Solve the equation 5x + (-2) = 6x + 4 using the algebra
tiles
What tiles need to be added to both sides to remove
the smaller X-coefficient?
What tiles need to be added to both sides to remove
the constant from the right side of the equation?
What is the solution?

Answer

1. We add - 5x to both sides

2. We add - 4 to both sides

Step-by-step explanation:

Presented with the expression

5x + (−2) = 6x + 4 we can simplify the right hand side as

5x −2 = 6x + 4

1. To remove the smaller x coefficient we need to add - 5x to both sides since the smaller coefficient is 5

5x −2+(-5x) = 6x + 4+ (- 5x)

5x-2-x5= 6x+4 - x5

5x-5x-2= 6x-5x+4

-2= x+4

2. To remove the constant from the right hand side we need to add - 4 to both sides seeing that the constant term is 4

5x + (−2) + (-4) = 6x + 4 +(-4)

5x-2-4= 6x+4-4

5x-6= 6x