Question

Which equation, when solved, results in a different value of x than the other 3

Answer 1

Let's solve this:

I'm going to assume that -7/8x and those similar are (-7/8) times x and so on.

from first glance, the fourth equation looks like a failed attempt at a modifier of the first equation.

Start: First equation:

-(7/8)x - (3/4) = 20

multiply both sides of the equation by -1 to make it the 2nd equation:

(7/8)x + (3/4) = -(20)

or to get the third equation from the first, distribute the numerator in -(7/8)x outside the parentheses (remember: top/bottom = top times 1 over bottom) :

- 7(1/8)x - (3/4) - 20

equation 4 is weird (lets try to derive the first one from it):

-(7/8)(-8/7)x - (3/4) = 20(-8/7)

divide to 'get rid' of the (-8/7)

-(7/8)x - (3/4)/(-8/7) = 20

first and third terms are right but the second isn't; therefore, the 4th equation is the different one