## benhogi one year ago Math equation help

1. benhogi

-8x+9x-21= -12 - 16

2. benhogi

this is my only question i need to solve for x

3. misty1212

HI!!

4. benhogi

hi

5. misty1212

is it $\huge -8x+9x-21= -12 - 16$?

6. benhogi

yeah

7. misty1212

combine like terms first which really just means compute $$-8x+9x$$ and also $$-12-16$$

8. benhogi

x means i multiply by something right?

9. misty1212

lol

10. misty1212

you did write "solve for x" above right?

11. misty1212

that means x is a variable, not a times sign !

12. benhogi

yes

13. misty1212

if that is confusing change it to an $$n$$ or a $$\xi$$ or whatever your favorite variable is i like $$\color\magenta\heartsuit$$

14. benhogi

−12−16 is -28 and −8x+9x−21 is -32

15. benhogi

could x be -7?

16. anonymous

you need to go back and find out what a variable is, and what it means to say "solve for $$x$$"

17. anonymous

$−8x+9x−21$ is not a number, i ti s an expression

18. anonymous

like $-8\spadesuit+9\spadesuit-21$