Glencoe Math: Course 2, Volume 2
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Glencoe Math: Course 2, Volume 2 View details
4. Solve Two-Step Equations
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Exercise 21 Page 475

b = 36

Practice makes perfect

To solve an equation, we should isolate the variable term. In this case, we will use the Subtraction Property of Equality and Multiplication Property of Equality.

15 - 1/2b = - 3
15 - 1/2b - 15 = - 3 - 15
- 1/2b = - 18
- 1/2b * (- 1)= - 18* (- 1)
1/2b = 18
1/2b* 2 = 18 * 2
b = 18* 2
b = 36

The solution to the equation is b = 36. We can check our solution by substituting it into the original equation.

15 - 1/2b = - 3
15 - 1/2* 36 ? = - 3
15 - 36/2? = - 3
15 - 18 ? = - 3
- 3 = - 3 ✓

Since the left-hand side is equal to the right-hand side, our solution is correct.