Solve for x 98=-4+3(-5x-1)

$98 = - 4 + 3 (- 5 x - 1)$

Step 1

Rewrite the equation as $- 4 + 3 (- 5 x - 1) = 98$ .

$- 4 + 3 (- 5 x - 1) = 98$

Step 2

Simplify $- 4 + 3 (- 5 x - 1)$ .

Simplify each term.

Apply the distributive property.

$- 4 + 3 (- 5 x) + 3 \cdot - 1 = 98$

Multiply $- 5$ by $3$ .

$- 4 - 15 x + 3 \cdot - 1 = 98$

Multiply $3$ by $- 1$ .

$- 4 - 15 x - 3 = 98$

Subtract $3$ from $- 4$ .

$- 15 x - 7 = 98$

Step 3

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

Add $7$ to both sides of the equation.

$- 15 x = 98 + 7$

Add $98$ and $7$ .

$- 15 x = 105$

Step 4

Divide each term in $- 15 x = 105$ by $- 15$ and simplify.

Divide each term in $- 15 x = 105$ by $- 15$ .

$\frac{- 15 x}{- 15} = \frac{105}{- 15}$

Simplify the left side.

Cancel the common factor of $- 15$ .

Cancel the common factor.

$\frac{- 15 x}{- 15} = \frac{105}{- 15}$

Divide $x$ by $1$ .

$x = \frac{105}{- 15}$

Simplify the right side.

Divide $105$ by $- 15$ .

$x = - 7$