1998 CEMC Pascal Problems/Problem 2

Problem

If $3(x - 5) = 3(18 - 5)$ , then $x$ is

$\text{ (A) }\ \frac{44}{3} \qquad\text{ (B) }\ \frac{32}{3} \qquad\text{ (C) }\ 9 \qquad\text{ (D) }\ 18 \qquad\text{ (E) }\ 81$

$3(x - 5) = 3(18 - 5)$

$3x - 15 = 3 \times 13$

$3x - 15 = 39$

$3x = 54$

$x = \boxed {\textbf {(D) } 18}$

~anabel.disher

$3(x - 5) = 3(18 - 5)$

$3(x - 5) = 3 \times 13$

$x - 5 = 13$

$x = \boxed {\textbf {(D) } 18}$

~anabel.disher

We can notice that the left side of the equation is just like the right side of the equation. This allows us to see $x = 18$ .

~anabel.disher