Mikayla and Jesse both solved the equation x−15=12−8, using substitution. Mikayla says the answer is x=19, and Jesse says the answer is x=27. Which student is correct, and how do you know? Show your work and explain your thinking

To find out which student is correct, we need to solve the equation x − 15 = 12 − 8 step by step.

Let's start by simplifying the equation on both sides:
x - 15 = 4

To isolate the x-term, we can add 15 to both sides:
x - 15 + 15 = 4 + 15
Simplifying further:
x = 19

Therefore, Mikayla's answer x = 19 is correct.

We arrived at this answer by accurately performing the steps of solving the equation. Adding 15 to both sides eliminates the -15 term on the left side, leaving only the x term. Then, adding 15 to 4 gives us 19, yielding the value of x.

Compared to Jesse's answer x = 27, it seems he made a mistake in one or more of the steps while solving the equation.

The given equation is: x - 15 = 12 - 8

We can simplify the right-hand side of the equation as 12 - 8 = 4

Substituting this value in the equation, we get:

x - 15 = 4

Adding 15 to both sides, we get:

x = 19

Therefore, Mikayla is correct.

To verify, we can substitute the value of x as 19 in the given equation:

19 - 15 = 12 - 8

4 = 4

The equation is verified and thus, Mikayla's solution is correct.

To determine which student is correct, let's solve the equation step by step using substitution.

The original equation is:
x - 15 = 12 - 8

First, let's simplify the equation on the right side:
x - 15 = 4

Now, let's add 15 to both sides of the equation to isolate x:
x - 15 + 15 = 4 + 15
x = 19

By following the steps, we found that x = 19. Therefore, Mikayla is correct.