What inverse operation is needed for the first step in solving the equation 12+5x=22?
a. addition
b. subtraction
c> multiplication
d. division
(b)
12+5x-12 = 22-12
To determine the inverse operation needed for the first step in solving the equation 12 + 5x = 22, we need to isolate the variable x.
The first step is to perform the inverse operation on the term that is directly added to or subtracted from x. In this equation, 12 is added to 5x. To undo the addition of 12, we need to perform the inverse operation, which is subtraction.
Therefore, the correct answer is b. subtraction.