If 3(k + 4) = 5k - 8, what is the value of k? — SAT

If $3(k + 4) = 5k - 8$ , what is the value of $k$ ?

Answer: 10

Distributing the

3

on the left side yields

3k + 12 = 5k - 8

. Subtracting

3k

from both sides yields

12 = 2k - 8

. Adding

8

to both sides yields

20 = 2k

. Dividing by

2

gives the solution

k = 10

Distribute

3

to the terms inside the parentheses

3k + 12 = 5k - 8

To simplify the left side of the equation

Subtract

3k

from both sides of the equation

12 = 2k - 8

To group the variable terms on one side

Add

8

to both sides of the equation

20 = 2k

To isolate the variable term

Divide both sides by

2

k = 10

To solve for

k

Solving linear equations with variables on both sides using distributive property

Question