Identify the first step in solving this equation for x : 7(x − 8) = 49 . (1 point)Responses
A:multiple both sides by 7
B:divide both sides by 7
C:divide only the left side by 7
D:add 8 to both sides
The first step in solving the equation 7(x - 8) = 49 for x is:
D: Add 8 to both sides
The first step in solving the equation 7(x - 8) = 49 is to divide both sides by 7. So, the correct answer is B: divide both sides by 7.
The first step in solving the equation 7(x - 8) = 49 is to simplify the equation by using the distributive property. In this case, you need to distribute the 7 to both the x and the -8 inside the parentheses.
So, the correct first step would be to apply the distributive property by multiplying 7 and each term inside the parentheses. This would result in the equation:
7x - 56 = 49
Therefore, the correct first step in solving this equation for x is to distribute 7 to each term inside the parentheses. The correct option would be A: multiply both sides by 7.