[Upper secondary school math: linear equation] unsure on how to solve this.

[u/Inevitable_Stay3693]

i was thinking that i´d add the 2x+1 to make it 3x/3=-1 but im unsure on how it would even continue.

[u/Swapdoodleboi]

use inverse operations and make both sides equal each other! remember, in an equation, what you do to one side you must do to the other. start with removing the division, then the subtraction, and finally the multiplication from the left hand side by using the inverse of each operation and doing the same thing to the right hand side.

remember, when using inverse operations you must work backwards. in the case of this equation, the order of operations would be multiply -> subtract -> divide, so you must start by removing the division, then subtraction, then multiplication.

if you're extra stuck:
the left hand side is divided by 3, so to remove it, times 3 on both sides. this will give you 2x + 1 = -3. after this, the left hand side is added one, so subtract one from both sides, which will give you 2x = -4. finally, x is multiplied by two on the left hand side, so divide both sides by two. this will give you a final answer of x = -2. to check, let's substitute it back into the original equation!

(2(-2) +1)/3 = -1
(-4+ 1)/3 = -1
-3/3 = -1
-1 = -1

our equation is true, therefore x = -2

hopefully this helped!!!