Answer:
q stands for an unknown number (q is the variable)
Step-by-step explanation:
Step 1:
Use distributive property (multiply 3 to everything in the parenthesis)
3(q-7)=27
3q-21=27
Step 2:
Get the variable by itself. By doing that, you need to cancel out other numbers by using the opposite operation ( subtraction and addiction are opposites: multiplication and division are opposites). The number we need to get rid of is -27 so we need to cancel it out and make it worth zero so we add 21.
3q-21=27
+21
Step 3:
Whatever you do to one side you need to do to the other.
3q-21=27
+21 +21
(The simplify)
3q= 48
Step 4:
We need to get rid of the 3. When a variable (unknown number) in this example it's q, is next to a number, it means multiplication. If we want to get q by itself, we need to get rid of the three. So, we need to use division because it's the opposite operation of multiplication.
3q/3=48
Step 5:
Whatever you do to one side you need to do to the other.
3q/3=48/3
(Then simplify)
3/3 cancels out. Now q is by itself which is what we want. Now what is 48/3?
And that is your answer to what q equals. Hope this helped.