Solve for x. 7 (x - 3) = 4 (x 5) user: if susie is 14, what was her age x years ago? x - 14 14 - x 14x

The correct answer to the first task, is:

7 (x-3) = 4 (x + 5) (im assuming x + 5 by the ordering of the numbers, and ive seen many people doing the same mistake.)

7x-21 = 4x + 20

7x-4x = 21+20

3x = 41

The answer is 41/3.

I found this quite ugly, so i will do it by multiplication as it is acctualy written, also.

7x - 21 = 20x

7x-20x = 21

-13x = 21

x = - 21/13 which is just as ugly.

If i input a - however:

7x-21 = 4x-20

3x = 1

x = 1/3

Thats all the possible answers, (except by division).

The correct answer to the second task, is 14 - x. Because she was x years younger than 14.