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Basic Algebra

Llou113y ago
Can someone help - I understand BODMAS

2x+3=10 how do you know if you should divide both sides by 2 and then subtract 3 from both sides or vice versa as each method will produce a different answer. If you followed the BODMAS rules i.e. divide both side first the answer would be wrong so I'm confussed.....

Thanks
John MoffatJohn MoffatTutor13y ago#1
It doesn't make any difference!!

If you divide by 2 first, then you get x + 1.5 = 5
Then you can subtract 1.5 and you get x = 3.5

If you subtract 3 first, you get 2x = 7
Then you can divide by 2 and you get x = 3.5
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