-2p - 4 = 2
Understand the Problem
The question is asking to solve the equation -2p - 4 = 2 for the variable p. This involves isolating p on one side of the equation through algebraic manipulation.
Answer
$p = -3$
Answer for screen readers
The final answer is $p = -3$.
Steps to Solve
- Add 4 to both sides of the equation
To begin isolating $p$, we add 4 to both sides of the equation.
$$ -2p - 4 + 4 = 2 + 4 $$
This simplifies to:
$$ -2p = 6 $$
- Divide both sides by -2
Next, to solve for $p$, we divide both sides of the equation by -2.
$$ p = \frac{6}{-2} $$
- Simplify the fraction
Now we can simplify the fraction on the right side.
$$ p = -3 $$
The final answer is $p = -3$.
More Information
The solution indicates that the value of $p$ that satisfies the equation is -3. This means if you substitute -3 back into the original equation, both sides will be equal, confirming that it's the correct solution.
Tips
- Confusing the signs when adding or subtracting: Always double-check operations with negative numbers.
- Forgetting to divide both sides by the same number: This is crucial for maintaining the equality of the equation.