Algebra · real student question

Solve for g: 6g + g - 5g = 36.

Question

Solve for gg:

6g+g5g=366g+g-5g=36

Step-by-step solution

  1. Simplify the left side before solving. All three terms are multiples of gg, so they merge into one. Attempting to divide by anything first would be premature — there is nothing to divide by yet.

  2. Read the middle coefficient correctly. The bare gg means 1g1g; treating it as 00 is the classic slip that turns the answer into 3636 instead of 1818.

  3. Add the coefficients.

    6+15=26g+g5g=2g6+1-5=2\qquad\Longrightarrow\qquad 6g+g-5g=2g

    so the equation is

    2g=362g=36

  4. Divide both sides by 2.

    g=362=18g=\frac{36}{2}=18

  5. Verify in the original equation. Substituting g=18g=18: 6(18)+185(18)=108+1890=366(18)+18-5(18)=108+18-90=36 ✓, which matches the right side exactly. As a second check, the simplified form gives 2(18)=362(18)=36 ✓.

Answer

g=18g=18

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