Who knows math?

Ok, I know this is really basic but for some reason I just can't figure out what to do with this problem (I didnt have any trouble with the other 40 problems, go figure).

I've been staring at it for a while now and I've given up, I still have a chapter to read and this has been my only day off all week so you can imagine how much house work I need to do.

x
-- + 2 = 3x + 35
4

It's the division that's confusing me, it's just been way too long since I've done algebra

It's been a while, but can't you just multiply both sides by 4 ?

I'm terrible at algebra to begin with and it's been a while, but I'm pretty sure that multiplying by 4 is the way you'd do that.

x
__ + 2 = 3x + 35
4

You have to try to get x by itself. So put all the number terms on one side.

x
__ + 2 -2 = 3x + 35 -2
4

x
__ = 3x + 33
4

Next you want to get rid of the 4. So you multiply both sides by it.

x
__ times 4 = (3x + 33 ) times 4
4

x = 12x + 132

You're still trying to get x on one side, so you subtract 12x from x.

x - 12x = 12x +132 - 12x

Now you can easily solve for x.

-11x = 132

x = 132/ -11

x = -12

Another way:

x
__ + 2 = 3x + 35
4

Multiply both sides by 4. This gives you

x + 8 = 12x + 140

Get all the number terms on one side by subtracting 8 from both sides.

x = 12x + 132

Get x on one side by subtracting 12x from both sides

-11x = 132

The answer is the same as above

x = -12

Thank you! Somehow I got the 132 but not the -11x (good grief)

I knew that all at one point in my life. Now I use all that learning to devide recipes by half.