a) x - 8 = 12 . . . . . the operation is subtraction of 8. The inverse operation is addition of 8
.. x -8 +8 = 12 +8
.. x = 20
b) n +3 = 13 . . . . . the operation is addition of 3. The inverse operation is subtraction of 3.
.. n +3 -3 = 13 -3
.. n = 10
c) b +14 = 33 . . . . . the operation is addition of 14. The inverse operation is addition of the opposite of 14, which is -14. (See (b). This is the same as subtracting 14.)
.. b +14 +(-14) = 33 +(-14)
.. b = 19
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Whenever you do any operation on one side of the equation, you must do the same operation on the other side. This is how the equality remains true.
