What is the solution of the equation 6x - 3 = - 51?

First you take - 3 and add itself to get 6x = - 48. Then you simply divide 6 into - 48 and you get x = - 8

When solving for a variable, you undo all operations done to that variable.

In the equation 6x - 3 = - 51 we see on the left-hand side that the variable x is being multiplied by 6 and subtracted 3 times.

We can reverse the subtraction operation by using the inverse of subtraction.

Which is the addition operation. If we add 3 to the left-hand side, the - 3 term will disappear.

But wait! Anything we do on one side we must do also on the opposite side.

6x - 3 + 3 = - 51 + 3

6x = - 48

Now how can we undo the multiplication operation done to x?

We can use division. It will make the 6 coefficient disappear!

6x / 6 = - 48/6

x = - 8

So, x is equal to - 8.