Question

½x - 5 = -6

Which solution makes this equation true?


1. -12

2. -2

Answer 1

Answer: -2

Let’s try x = -12

1/2(-12) - 5 = -6

PEMDAS says to multiply first

1/2 x -12 = -6

So

-6 - 5 = -6

-6 - 5 = -11 not -6 so it’s not that

Now let’s do x = -2

1/2(-2) - 5 = -6

Again, you multiply first

1/2 x -2 = -1

-1 - 5 = -6 so it works