A triangular prism is 13 millimeters long and has a triangular face with a base of 12 millimeters and a height of 8 millimeters. The other two sides of the triangle are each 10 millimeters. What is the surface area of the triangular prism?

starting with:    

5 + x - 12 = 2x - 7   

5 + x - 12 - x = 2x - 7 - x (subtract x from both sides)   

5 - 12 = x - 7 (combine and cancel x's from both sides)   

5 - 12 + 7 = x - 7 + 7 (add 7 to both sides)   

0 = x (add numbers together on both sides)       

so in order for the equation to be true, x must be 0.   

trying x = -0.5   

5 + x - 12 = 2x - 7 (original equation)   

5 + -0.5 - 12 = 2(-0.5) - 7 (plug in value of x)   

5 + -0.5 - 12 = -1 - 7 (did multiplication)   

-7.5 = -8 (did addition on both sides)       

since -7.5 is obviously not equal to -8, the value of -0.5 for x is wrong.   

trying x = 0   

5 + x - 12 = 2x - 7 (original equation)   

5 + 0 - 12 = 2(0) - 7 (plug in value of x)   

5 + 0 - 12 = 0 - 7 (did multiplication)   

-7 = -7 (did addition on both sides)       

since -7 equals -7, that demonstrates that the value of 0 for x is correct.   

trying x = 1   

5 + x - 12 = 2x - 7 (original equation)   

5 + 1 - 12 = 2(1) - 7 (plug in value of x)   

5 + 1 - 12 = 2 - 7 (did multiplication)   

-6 = -5 (did addition on both sides)       

since -6 is obviously not equal to -5, the value of 1 for x is wrong.

first, let's see what the pattern is.

58 - x = 47

46 - x = 36

x = 9

so this means that the term after 25 is 25 - 9:

the next term in the sequence is 16.

-3(b-8)-5=9(b+2)+1

distribute

-3b+24-5=9b+18+1

add/ subtract

-3b+20=9b+19

20-19= 1

-3b+1=9b

9b+3b= 12b

1=12b

1 divided by 12 = 1/12

answer: 1/12 = b