X + 7 = 10, are you telling me you wouldn’t know that X is 3?

Your equation is asking you what do you subtract 17 from to get -8. If you need to, draw a number line so you can really see it. If you’re learning algebra, you should know how to isolate the variable by adding 17 to both sides of the equation.

Excuse me, thumb trolls, but this is an answer and it is correct. I am HELPING a student see how to answer it.

add 17 to both sides. This gets rid of -17 and leaves m on a side by itself, which is what you want. Then it reads

m = 17 – 8 or m = 9.

m – 17 = -8

m = -8 + 17 = 9

you add the 17 to both sides of the equation. When you add 17 to -17 it cancels out so you are left with m = -8=17

which is m = 9

=]

Here it is done for you step by step. I hope you understand the process.

m – 17 + 8 = 0

m – 9 = 0

m = 9

That means that m=9

You’re welcome 🙂