Question

Which of the following could be a first step in correctly solving the equation below?

5(x-2)-2x=2

A.5(x-2)-2x+2=0
B.5(x-2)-2x=2-2x
C.5x-2-2x=2
D.5x-10-2x=2

Answer 1

The first step in solving the equation is to distribute the 5, making option D the correct choice, which results in 5x - 10 - 2x = 2.

Step-by-step explanation:

The first step in correctly solving the equation 5(x-2)-2x=2 would be to distribute the 5 into the parentheses of the left term. This action aligns with option D where the distribution results in 5x - 10 - 2x = 2. Doing so simplifies the equation and sets it up for further steps such as combining like terms and isolating the variable.

Answer 2

Definitely the correct answer is D.  You need to expand the product 5(x-2), and then to group all x terms together and all constants together.