Solve (x − 5)/4 = 3 (Step by Step)

How to solve the two-step equation (x − 5)/4 = 3, where x − 5 is divided by 4, with every step explained and a quick check of the answer.

Here 5 is taken away from x first, and then the whole thing is divided by 4. Undo them in reverse order: undo the divide by 4 by multiplying by 4, then add the 5 back.

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Step-by-step solution

Solve (x − 5)/4 = 3

Start with the equation: (x − 5)/4 = 3.
Multiply both sides by 4 to undo the ÷ 4: ((x − 5)/4) × 4 = 3 × 4, so x − 5 = 12.
Add 5 to both sides to undo the − 5: x − 5 + 5 = 12 + 5, so x = 17.
Check your answer: put x = 17 back in. (17 − 5)/4 = 12/4 = 3. Both sides match, so x = 17 is correct. ✓

Answer: x = 17

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Frequently asked questions

Why multiply by 4 first?

The brackets mean the whole x − 5 is divided by 4. Dividing happened last, so it is undone first: multiply both sides by 4 to get x − 5 = 12.

Why add 5 instead of subtracting it?

The equation takes 5 away from x. Adding 5 undoes that, so the − 5 and + 5 cancel and leave x by itself.

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