Exercise 26 Page 8

To solve the given equation for x, we need to isolate it by multiplying both sides of the equation by -2. We want to multiply by -2 because division and multiplication are inverse operations — they cancel each other out. This is allowed by the Multiplication Property of Equality.

x÷(- 2)=8

WriteAsFrac

Write as a fraction

x/- 2=8

MultEqn

LHS * (- 2)=RHS* (- 2)

x/- 2*(- 2)=8(- 2)

FracMultDenomToNumber

a/(- 2)* (- 2) = a

x=8(- 2)

Multiply

Multiply

x=- 16

We will check our solution by substituting this result back into the original equation and simplifying. If doing so results in an identity, our solution is correct.

x÷(- 2)=8

Substitute

x= - 16

{\color{#0000FF}{\text{-} 16}}\div (\text{-} 2)\stackrel{?}=8

WriteAsFrac

Write as a fraction

\dfrac{\text{-} 16}{\text{-} 2}\stackrel{?}=8

DivNegNeg

- a/- b=a/b

\dfrac{16}{2}\stackrel{?}=8

CalcQuot

Calculate quotient

8=8 ✓

Since substituting x=- 16 resulted in an identity, our solution is correct.