5x-2=4x+16 what's the answer and how do you work it out using the balance method?

5x - 2 = 4x + 16

Subtract 4x from both sides

x - 2 = 0 + 16

Add 2 to both sides

x = 18

5x - 2 = 4x + 16
5x - 4x = 2 + 16
x = 18
Hope I helped =)

the answer is x=18

first you +2 to the 16 and get 5x=4x+18
then you -4x from 5x and you are left with x=18

5x - 4x = 16 + 2
x = 18

5x - 2 = 4x + 16
5x - 2 + 2 = 4x + 16 + 2
5x = 4x + 18
5x - 4x = 4x - 4x + 18
x = 18

When using the balance method, you want to have your variable "x" on one side of the equal sign and a number on the other side. So you would first take 4X and subtract it on both sides. 5X-4X-2=4X-4X+16. That gives you X-2=16. Next you need to add 2 to both sides. X-2+2=16+2. That gives you X=18. Hope that helped!

5x - 2 = 4x + 16
5x - 2 + 2 = 4x + 16 + 2
5x = 4x + 18
5x - 4x = 4x + 18 - 4x
x = 18

I think that this is what you mean:

5x-2=4x+16
+2 +2
___________
5x =4x+18
-4x -4x
___________
1x= 18
---- -----
1 1
____________
x = 18