Question

Asher solved the equation below:

4x = 64
4x − 4 = 64 − 4
x = 60

Is Asher's solution correct? If the solution is incorrect, explain why it is incorrect and show the correct steps to solve the equation.

Answer 1

your wrong you divide by 4 60/4=15 there

Answer 2

Asher’s solution is incorrect. Asher failed to identify the coefficient of 4 (4x = 4•x) and treated it as if 4 was added to x, not multiplied. Because 4 is indeed the coefficient of x (meaning 4 is multiplying variable “x”), Asher should have applied the appropriate inverse operation of division on both sides of the equation to cancel out the coefficient of 4, thus isolating “x”. Asher would have to apply the division property of equality to keep the equation balanced.

Here’s the correct solution:

Given: 4x=64

Solve for x: divide both sides by 4:

4x/4=64/4

x=16