Question

How many solutions are there to the equation shown below? Explain your answer.*

12x - 7 = 2 (3x + 5) + 6x - 17

Answer 1

an infinite number

Explanation:

The equation simplifies to ...

12x -7 = 6x +10 +6x -17 . . . eliminate parentheses

12x -7 = 12x -7 . . . . . . . . collect terms

0 = 0 . . . . subtract (12x-7) from both sides

This is true for all values of x. There are an infinite number of solutions.