Solve a problem

Linear equationsAlgebraMiddle schoolabout 1:05

Solve 3(x + 2) = -6x - 8: animated lesson

A narrated, step-by-step linear equations video lesson with captions. Final answer: x = -14/9 ≈ -1.5555556.

SpeedLanguage

Video with a synthetic English voice and captions. Pick another language for subtitles in that language, or open the interactive version.

Video narrated by a synthetic voice (Piper TTS, en_US-ljspeech-high voice (LJ Speech dataset, public domain)); the steps come from our maths engine and the answer was checked independently. Download MP4 (0.4 MB) · Captions (WebVTT)

Steps on screen

1. The problem
Solving an equation
$3~\left( x+2\right) = -6~ x-8$
2. Steps, part 1
1. $3~\left( x+2\right) = -6~ x-8$
  Start with the equation
2. $3x + 6 = -6x - 8$
  Simplify each side (distribute and combine like terms)
3. $9x + 6 = -8$
  Add 6x to both sides
4. $9x = -14$
  Subtract 6 from both sides
3. Steps, part 2
1. $x = \frac{-14}{9} = -\frac{14}{9}$
  Divide both sides by 9
4. The answer
$x = -\frac{14}{9} \approx -1.5555556$
x = -14/9 ≈ -1.5555556
5. Check
- x = -1.5555556: left side = 1.3333333, right side = 1.3333333 ✓

Transcript

The problem. Here is the problem: 3(x plus 2) equals negative 6x minus 8. A linear equation in x: isolate x using inverse operations.

Steps, part 1. Start with the equation. Simplify each side (distribute and combine like terms). Add 6x to both sides. Subtract 6 from both sides.

Steps, part 2. Divide both sides by 9.

The answer. So the answer is x equals negative 14 over 9 approximately negative 1.5555556. Doing the same operation to both sides keeps the equation balanced. Undoing addition, then multiplication, leaves x alone.

Check. x equals negative 1.5555556: left side equals 1.3333333, right side equals 1.3333333, which checks out.

About linear equations

Solve one-variable linear equations, including ones with brackets and fractions, and check the solution.

Solve 3(x + 2) = -6x - 8: Animated Step-by-Step Lesson