Math Help anyone!!!!

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Hi everyone

So i am an admitted math-phob and i need help on a question that came up while i am practicing for my big NLN test coming up in 25 days 23 hrs 59 mins 33 seconds. (yes i have one of those confounded tickers on my desk top to drive myself more batty than i am already.)

Anyway, i was wondering if anyone could help me with this math question, i would like to know what TYPE of question it is, that way i know where to look in the million reference books i have gotten from my library.

here is the question:

Solve:

x + 2[3 -5(1 - x)] = 3(x-3) + 5

is this a factoring problem, a quadratic equation, linear algebra?? In other words if i were to look up a math text book what heading would this type of question be listed under??? I have no idea what this is, if i know what it is then i know where to look, determine how to solve and further more find other questions like it to practice.

Please help this hopeless math-phob, im sure my question will be helpful to the many other NLNers out there.

Thanks in advance

Mystiqx

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It looks like you've mainly got an order of operations problem there. In other words, you need to figure out what to do first, second, third, etc.

Here's a page that may help:

http://www.purplemath.com/modules/orderops.htm

and then you solve the linear equation for x.

http://www.purplemath.com/modules/solvelin.htm

hope that helps.

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It looks like you've mainly got an order of operations problem there. In other words, you need to figure out what to do first, second, third, etc.

Here's a page that may help:

The Order of Operations: PEMDAS

and then you solve the linear equation for x.

Solving One-Step Linear Equations

hope that helps.

Thanks so much, i appreciate it!!

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Specializes in ER.

It is an algebra problem, but order of operations is your first order of business. Just remember to take it one step at a time and don't try to do too many parts in one step.

Good luck!

Kathy

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I got x=0, is that right?

Now I'm getting nervous about my own lack of recent math experience. I used to be a math geek, but it's been a while. I know the OP wasn't asking for an answer, but did anyone else try to solve it?

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Specializes in ER.

I got 0 also! Good job!

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I see you solved it. For order of operations I memorized this little acronym: GEMA. It stands for grouping, exponents, multiply and divide, add and subtract.

That little gem has saved me from having to think too hard. ;)

tofutti

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I got x=0, is that right?

Now I'm getting nervous about my own lack of recent math experience. I used to be a math geek, but it's been a while. I know the OP wasn't asking for an answer, but did anyone else try to solve it?

yes you are right x=0.

thanks so much everyone for your responses.

i did try to solve the problem on my own before i posted, but i got so confused with the x's

but i think if i understand something like

x + 10x = 11x (in this particular question i mean)

and i would look at "x" as 1x and thats where the 11 comes from???

i got so confused with that

thanks so much again

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Specializes in ER.

You are correct - any variable with no number in front of it is considered a "1". The hardest thing to remember it seems is to work parentheses from the inside out and use the distributive property to get rid of them ASAP. They always seem to hose people up.

Take care,

Kathy

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Question: x + 2[3 -5(1 - x)] = 3(x-3) + 5

solutions: x+2[3-5(1-x)]=3(x-3)+5

x+2[3-5+5x]=3x-9+5

x+2[-2+5x]=3x-4

x-4+10x=3x-4

-4+11x=3x-4

11x-3x=-4+4

8x=0

x=0

There are different ways of simplifying, and different methods followed by different tutors for simplifying expressions.With the help of this link you can easily solve your problems.i am sure it is very useful for you.

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