Question

Five times the quantity s + 6 equals 3 times the quantity s - 2. What value of s makes this sentence true?

Answer 1

5(s + 6)= 3(s - 2)
multiply 5 and 3 by their parentheses

5s + 30= 3s - 6
subtract 3s from both sides

2s + 30= -6
subtract 30 from both sides

2s= -36
divide both sides by 2

s= -18


CHECK:
5(s + 6)= 3(s - 2)
5(-18 + 6)= 3(-18 - 2)
5(-12)= 3(-20)
-60= -60


ANSWER: The value of s that makes the statement true is -18.

Hope this helps! :)