Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Linear Equations
A linear equation is an algebraic equation in which each term is either a constant or the product of a constant and a single variable. The general form is ax + b = 0, where a and b are constants. Solving linear equations involves isolating the variable on one side of the equation to find its value.
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Distributive Property
The distributive property states that a(b + c) = ab + ac, allowing us to multiply a single term by two or more terms inside parentheses. This property is essential for simplifying expressions and solving equations, as it helps to eliminate parentheses and combine like terms effectively.
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Isolating the Variable
Isolating the variable is a key step in solving equations, where the goal is to get the variable (in this case, x) alone on one side of the equation. This often involves performing inverse operations, such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division, to both sides of the equation to maintain equality.
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