Identify the first step in solving this equation for x: 7(x − 8) = 49.
The first step in solving this equation for x is to distribute the 7 to both the x and the -8 inside the parentheses.
The first step in solving the equation 7(x − 8) = 49 is to distribute the 7 to the terms inside the parentheses.
The first step in solving the equation 7(x − 8) = 49 is to simplify the equation by using the distributive property. The distributive property states that you need to multiply the number outside the parentheses (7) by each term inside the parentheses (x and -8).
To apply the distributive property, you multiply 7 by both x and -8. The equation becomes:
7 * x - 7 * 8 = 49
Now you can simplify further:
7x - 56 = 49
The equation is now simplified, and you can proceed to the next steps to solve for x.