Question Video: Solving One-Variable Equations Involving Negative Numbers Mathematics • Sixth Year of Primary School

Video Transcript

If negative six 𝑥 equals 24, what is the value of six 𝑥 minus one?

The steps here will be to first find what 𝑥 is equal to, then use that value to plug into the expression six 𝑥 minus one. Negative six 𝑥 equals 24 is the statement we’re given. We need to solve for 𝑥, get 𝑥 by itself. We can do that by dividing negative six 𝑥 by negative six.

Negative six divided by negative six cancels each other are out. They’re equal to one. But if we divide by negative six on the left side of the equation, we need to divide by negative six on the right side. 24 divide by negative six equals negative four. That tells us that 𝑥 is equal to negative four.

And we can use that information to solve six 𝑥 minus one. 𝑥 is equal to negative four. So we plug that in. Six times negative four minus one is what we’re trying to solve. Six 𝑥 negative four equals negative 24. If we subtract one from negative 24, we get negative 25. The value of six 𝑥 minus one is negative 25.