Solving 4x + 5 = 4x - 3 removes the variable and leaves 5 equals -3. What is this equation?
AA contradiction with no solution
BAn identity with all real solutions
CA conditional with one solution
DA linear equation with two roots
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: A. A contradiction with no solution
1. Subtracting 4x from both sides wipes out the variable.
2. What remains, 5 equals negative 3, is false whatever number was used.
3. An equation false for every value of the variable is a contradiction.
4. It has no solution at all, which is the opposite of an identity.
_Source: OpenStax Intermediate Algebra (CC BY 4.0), Ch 2 "Solving Linear Equations", section 2.1 Use a General Strategy to Solve Linear Equations_
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