Consider the following statement. 5 times a number plus 10 is equal to 2 times the number minus 18 . What variable is appropriate? \( x \) (the value 5 ) \( x \) (the value 18) \( x \) (the value 2 ) \( x \) (a known number) \( x \) (the unknown number) Translate the sentence into an equation. Solve the equation for the variable \( x \). Check the answer. \( x= \)
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Mind Expander
Let's dive into the world of algebra! The appropriate variable here is \( x \) (the unknown number). This is like a treasure hidden in the math puzzle, waiting to be unveiled! Now, translating your statement into an equation, we have: \[ 5x + 10 = 2x - 18 \] To solve for \( x \), first, we’ll get all the terms involving \( x \) on one side and the constants on the other side: \[ 5x - 2x = -18 - 10 \] This simplifies to: \[ 3x = -28 \] Now, divide both sides by 3 to isolate \( x \): \[ x = -\frac{28}{3} \] To check, substitute \( x \) back into the original equation: Left side: \( 5(-\frac{28}{3}) + 10 = -\frac{140}{3} + \frac{30}{3} = -\frac{110}{3} \) Right side: \( 2(-\frac{28}{3}) - 18 = -\frac{56}{3} - \frac{54}{3} = -\frac{110}{3} \) Both sides match, confirming that \( x = -\frac{28}{3} \)! So, the answer is \( x = -\frac{28}{3} \). Math adventures like this remind us how cool solving for unknowns can be!