Answer:
x = 51/2 or 25.5.
Step-by-step explanation:
The problem given is an example of a two-step equation. This means that there are two steps or operations in order to solve for the variable. In two-step equations, we use inverse (opposite) operations to solve. Typically, the first operation is addition or subtraction and the second operation is multiplication or division. In the equation 2/3x - 8 = 9, we need to first get rid of the constant, or 8, so we can isolate the variable. Since the equation is subtracting 8, we need to do the opposite, which is add 8, to both sides of the equal sign: 2/3x - 8 + 8 = 8 + 9, or 2/3x = 17. Since the coefficient in front of the x is a fraction (2/3), we need to multiply by the reciprocal (3/2) on both sides of the equal sign: (3/2)(2/3)x = 17(3/2), or x = 51/2 (25.5).
