What is the solution to the equation x − 12 = 25?

What is the solution to the equation x − 12 = 25?

• A. 25
• B. 37
• C. 13
• D. 47

Answer: (B)

To solve a subtraction on the variable, undo the subtraction by doing the opposite operation to both sides. Here, since x minus 12 equals 25, add 12 to both sides to isolate x. x = 25 + 12 = 37. So the value that makes the equation true is 37. If you test other numbers, they don’t make the left side equal to 25 (for example, 25 would give 25 − 12 = 13, 13 would give 1, and 47 would give 35), whereas 37 gives 37 − 12 = 25.

To solve a subtraction on the variable, undo the subtraction by doing the opposite operation to both sides. Here, since x minus 12 equals 25, add 12 to both sides to isolate x. x = 25 + 12 = 37. So the value that makes the equation true is 37. If you test other numbers, they don’t make the left side equal to 25 (for example, 25 would give 25 − 12 = 13, 13 would give 1, and 47 would give 35), whereas 37 gives 37 − 12 = 25.