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SAT Math Question for the week of 07/11/2021

For what value of the constant c the equation 3(2x + c) = 6x + 2 + c has infinitely many solutions?


Maps to Category 13 of the book.

 

Answer posted on 07/18/2021: Answer is 1.


For the equation to have infinitely many solutions, expressions on both sides of the equation must be equal. The coefficient of x in both the expressions must be same and the constant in both the expressions must be same.


Simplify the left expression and equate the coefficients and constants.

3(2x + c) = 6x + 2 + c --> 6x + 3c = 6x + 2 + c.

Coefficients: The coefficients are same on both sides.

Constants:

Left expression constant is 3c.

Right expression constant is 2 + c.

Equate and determine the value of c that makes both sides equal. We can see that if c is 1, then constant on both the sides will equal to 3. Hence, c = 1. See calculation below.

3c = 2 + c --> 3c - c = 2 --> 2c = 2 --> c = 1.

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