What is the value of x in the equation below? 18x - 4 = -10

Rationale

x = -1/3

By solving the equation 18x - 4 = -10 for x, the result obtained is x = -1/3. This value makes the equation balance, thus it is the correct solution.

A (x = -2 or x = 1) YOUR ANSWER

If you substitute x = -2 or x = 1 into the equation, it does not balance. For x = -2, the left side of the equation becomes -36 - 4, which equals -40, not -10. For x = 1, the left side of the equation becomes 14, which also does not equal -10.

B (x = -1/3 or x = 2) CORRECT

Substituting x = -1/3 into the equation gives the left side of the equation as -10, which equals the right side. However, substituting x = 2 into the equation results in a left side value of 32, which does not equal -10.

C (x = -1/2 or x = 3/2) YOUR ANSWER

If you substitute x = -1/2 or x = 3/2 into the equation, it does not balance. For x = -1/2, the left side of the equation becomes -9 - 4, which equals -13, not -10. For x = 3/2, the left side of the equation becomes 23, which also does not equal -10.

D (x = -3/2 or x = 1/2) YOUR ANSWER

Substituting x = -3/2 or x = 1/2 into the equation does not result in a balanced equation. For x = -3/2, the left side of the equation becomes -27 - 4, which equals -31, not -10. For x = 1/2, the left side of the equation becomes 5, which also does not equal -10.

Conclusion

The correct value for x in the equation 18x - 4 = -10 is x = -1/3. Other proposed solutions do not satisfy the equation. The value of x = -1/3 makes the equation balance, proving it to be the correct answer. The other choices yield values for the equation that do not equal -10, therefore they are incorrect.

What is the value of x in the equation below? 18x - 4 = -10

x = -1/3

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