7(x+3)=2x+51

[xeven_]

I am having trouble in math class. Can excel 2011 solve these types of equations? Can a calculator solve them?

 

[Andrew Poulsom]

Isn't that the same as:

5x=30

giving 6 as the value of x?

 

[xeven_]

the problem is asking fort the solution and 30 isn't
working.

 

[Aladin Akyurek]

No, Excel cannot, but you can.

 

[Rick Rothstein]

I am having trouble in math class. Can excel 2011 solve these types of equations? Can a calculator solve them?

Rather than have Excel produce a "magic number" for you, it would be better if you learned how to solve these type of equations for the unknown. When you see something structured like this...

7(x+3)

you can multiply the 7 through the parentheses to produce this...

7x + 7*3

which, when you perform the indicated multiplication, becomes..

7x + 21

So this...

7(X + 3) = 2X + 51

is the same as this...

7X + 21 = 2X + 51

Subtract 21 (the minimum of the two numbers that are not multiplied by X) from both sides of the equation (which does not change the equation because the same thing was done to both sides)...

7X + 21 - 21 = 2X + 51 - 21

which yields...

7X = 2X + 30

Now subtract 2X (the minimum of the two values involving X) from both sides of the equation...

7X - 2X = 2X - 2X + 30

which yields...

5X = 30

Dividing both sides by 5 (the value in front o the X)...

5X / 5 = 30 / 5

which yield...

X = 6

 

[xeven_]

 

[Rick Rothstein]

Does that emoticon mean you are surprised at how easy the calculation is... or is it more of a "What the heck is he talking about"?

 

[xeven_]

Uhm that means I may as well be reading chinese because that is exactly how I feel when I see all that. But thanks for your time I know your calculations are correct.

 

[jtakw]

I don't quite remember that far back, but isn't this like 7th or 8th grade math?

 

[xeven_]

The thing is true but I had a lot of problems during that time and my math skills really never advanced much further than basic addition,subtraction,multiplication and division.