Nancy is checking to determine if the expressions [tex]x+4+x[/tex] and [tex]6+2x-2[/tex] are equivalent. When [tex]x=3[/tex], she correctly finds that both expressions have a value of 10. When [tex]x=5[/tex], she correctly evaluates the first expression to find that [tex]x+4+x=14[/tex].

What is the value of the second expression when [tex]x=5[/tex], and are the two expressions equivalent?

A. The value of the second expression is 8, so the expressions are not equivalent.
B. The value of the second expression is 14, so the expressions are equivalent.
C. The value of the second expression is 16, so the expressions are equivalent.
D. The value of the second expression is 18, so the expressions are not equivalent.



Answer :

Let's determine if the expressions [tex]\( x + 4 + x \)[/tex] and [tex]\( 6 + 2x - 2 \)[/tex] are equivalent by working through the problem step-by-step.

First, we evaluate the expressions when [tex]\( x = 5 \)[/tex].

### Evaluation of the First Expression
The first expression is:
[tex]\[ x + 4 + x \][/tex]

Substitute [tex]\( x = 5 \)[/tex] into the expression:
[tex]\[ 5 + 4 + 5 \][/tex]

Simplify this:
[tex]\[ 5 + 4 = 9 \][/tex]
[tex]\[ 9 + 5 = 14 \][/tex]

So, when [tex]\( x = 5 \)[/tex], the value of the first expression is 14. This matches the value Nancy found:
[tex]\[ x + 4 + x = 14 \][/tex]

### Evaluation of the Second Expression
The second expression is:
[tex]\[ 6 + 2x - 2 \][/tex]

Substitute [tex]\( x = 5 \)[/tex] into the expression:
[tex]\[ 6 + 2(5) - 2 \][/tex]

Simplify this:
[tex]\[ 2(5) = 10 \][/tex]
[tex]\[ 6 + 10 - 2 = 16 - 2 = 14 \][/tex]

So, when [tex]\( x = 5 \)[/tex], the value of the second expression is 14.

### Determining Equivalence
Since both expressions evaluate to 14 when [tex]\( x = 5 \)[/tex], we conclude that the expressions are equivalent for [tex]\( x = 5 \)[/tex].

Thus, the value of the second expression when [tex]\( x = 5 \)[/tex] is 14, and the two expressions are equivalent.
So the correct answer is:

"The value of the second expression is 14, so the expressions are equivalent."

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