Solve 3(x + 2) = 3x + 6

Step by step

The question

Question: solve 3(x + 2) = 3x + 6.

1 Open the brackets

The 3 in front of the bracket multiplies every part inside.

So we write 3 times each part.

Work out each multiplication.

2 Get x on one side

There is x on both sides.

We want x on one side only.

So we remove the 3x from the right side.

To remove 3x, we take away 3x.

We do it on both sides.

Why both sides?

The = sign means both sides are the same amount.

If we change only one side, they are not the same any more.

3x and − 3x make zero.

Cross them out.

3x − 3x = 0.

Now we have 6 = 6.

The x parts are gone.

6 = 6 is always true.

So every number works!

Let's look back.

First: open the brackets.

Last: get x on one side.