Question

-42x = 24

what is the first step in order to get this variable all alone?

Answer 1

Answer:

Step-by-step explanation:

Divide each term by -42 and simplifiy.

x= -   4/7

Answer 2

Answer:

x = $\frac{-4}{7}$  or x = -.5714

Step-by-step explanation:

First divide by -42 on both sides.

-42x = 24

/-42     /-42

Then you'll have this

x =  $\frac{24}{-42}$

Then you have to simplify the fraction, since this doesn't divide evenly.

You can do this by divide the numerator and denominator by like terms.

$\frac{24}{-42}$ / $\frac{2}{2}$ = $\frac{12}{-21}$

You can simplify it further by dividing the numerator and denominator by 3.

$\frac{12}{-21}$ / $\frac{3}{3}$ = $\frac{4}{-7}$

Because 7 is a prime number this is the farthest you can simplify. You can now move the negative to the numerator because the fraction is completely simplified.