A student tried to solve the following equation but made a mistake. Step 1: 4 – 8x = -28

Step 2: -8x = -24

Step 3: x = 3

What mistake did the student make?

9514 1404 393

  in Step 2, the student added 4 on the right and subtracted 4 on the left

Step-by-step explanation:

In Step 2, the student subtracted 4 on the left side of the equation, but incorrectly added 4 on the right. (The same operation needs to be performed on both sides of the equation.) The correct step 2 would be ...

  -8x = -32 . . . . correct step 2

  x = 4 . . . . . correct step 3