Question

7h = -(2h - 18)
7h = -2h + 18
multiple - choice question
what is the next step to isolate h?
multiply by -2
add 18
subtract 18
divide by -2

Explanation:

Step1: Analyze the equation

We have the equation $7H=-2H + 18$. To isolate the variable $H$, we need to get all terms with $H$ on one - side.

Step2: Add 2H to both sides

Adding $2H$ to both sides of the equation $7H=-2H + 18$ will combine the $H$ terms. According to the addition property of equality, if $a=b$, then $a + c=b + c$. Here, $a = 7H$, $b=-2H + 18$, and $c = 2H$. So, $7H+2H=-2H+2H + 18$, which simplifies to $9H=18$. Among the given options, the correct operation to start isolating $H$ is to get all $H$ terms on one side. Since we want to eliminate the $-2H$ on the right - hand side, we should add $2H$ to both sides. But among the given options, the next best step after considering the goal of isolating $H$ is to subtract 18 from both sides if we want to further isolate $H$ after getting all $H$ terms on one side. First, we combined $H$ terms by adding $2H$ to both sides (not an option here), and then to isolate $H$ completely we would need to get rid of the constant term on the side with $H$.

Answer:

Subtract 18