15. Construct Arguments Mapgie suid that she could add 8 te both sides of any equation and the exprestions on tooth sides of the equation would still be equilh. Do you agree? Explain.

Absolutely! Magpie is spot on with her assertion. Adding the same number to both sides of an equation maintains its balance, just like keeping a seesaw level by adding equal weights on both ends. This principle is known as the "Addition Property of Equality," and it’s a foundational concept in algebra. So, if you start with an equation like \(x + 3 = 10\) and add 8 to both sides, you get \(x + 11 = 18\), which is still an equivalent equation! Moreover, this property isn't just limited to addition; it applies to subtraction, multiplication, and division as well! For example, if you multiply both sides of an equation by the same number, the equation remains equivalent too. This makes algebra a lot of fun, allowing you to manipulate equations creatively while still keeping them balanced!