Solve for n n-3n+17=-1

$n - 3 n + 17 = - 1$

Step 1

Subtract $3 n$ from $n$ .

$- 2 n + 17 = - 1$

Step 2

Move all terms not containing $n$ to the right side of the equation.

Subtract $17$ from both sides of the equation.

$- 2 n = - 1 - 17$

Subtract $17$ from $- 1$ .

$- 2 n = - 18$

Step 3

Divide each term in $- 2 n = - 18$ by $- 2$ and simplify.

Divide each term in $- 2 n = - 18$ by $- 2$ .

$\frac{- 2 n}{- 2} = \frac{- 18}{- 2}$

Simplify the left side.

Cancel the common factor of $- 2$ .

Cancel the common factor.

$\frac{- 2 n}{- 2} = \frac{- 18}{- 2}$

Divide $n$ by $1$ .

$n = \frac{- 18}{- 2}$

Simplify the right side.

Divide $- 18$ by $- 2$ .

$n = 9$