If 4(x - 3) + 2x = 30, what is the value of x? | SAT Linear equations in one variable Question, Answer Explained

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If $4(x - 3) + 2x = 30$ , what is the value of $x$ ?

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Answer: 7

Distribute the $4$ : $4x - 12 + 2x = 30$ . Combine like terms: $6x - 12 = 30$ . Add $12$ to both sides to get $6x = 42$ , so $x = 7$ .

Writing $4(x - 3)$ as $4x - 3$ gives $6x = 33$ and $x = 5.5$ , but the $4$ multiplies both terms in the parentheses.

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