Question

An equation is incorrectly solved below.Equation: 2x+3=-4step 1: 2x+3-3=-4-3step 2: 2x=-1step 3: 2x/2=-1/2step 4: x=-1/2What is the first step that shows an error in the solution of the Equation? A. Step 1B. Step 2C. Step 3D. Step 4

Answer 1

To find the step where the error was made, we are going to correctly solve the equation:

`2x+3=-4`

We need to solve for x, first we subtract 3 from each side:

`\begin{gathered} 2x+3-3=-4-3 \\ 2x=-7 \end{gathered}`

We divide by 2 each side:

`\begin{gathered} (2x)/(2)=(-7)/(2) \\ x=-(7)/(2) \end{gathered}`

The first step that shows an error in the solution of the equation is the Step 2, because when we have two negative numbers, we add them, we do not subtract them.

Answer: B. Step 2