Solve for x 3x+9=5

$3 x + 9 = 5$

Step 1

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

Subtract $9$ from both sides of the equation.

$3 x = 5 - 9$

Subtract $9$ from $5$ .

$3 x = - 4$

Step 2

Divide each term in $3 x = - 4$ by $3$ and simplify.

Divide each term in $3 x = - 4$ by $3$ .

$\frac{3 x}{3} = \frac{- 4}{3}$

Simplify the left side.

Cancel the common factor of $3$ .

Cancel the common factor.

$\frac{3 x}{3} = \frac{- 4}{3}$

Divide $x$ by $1$ .

$x = \frac{- 4}{3}$

Simplify the right side.

Move the negative in front of the fraction.

$x = - \frac{4}{3}$

Step 3

The result can be shown in multiple forms.

Exact Form:

$x = - \frac{4}{3}$

Decimal Form:

$x = - 1.\overline{3}$

Mixed Number Form:

$x = - 1 \frac{1}{3}$