Trying to work out this problem. can't find out what x is.

0.5 (-2.5x - 4.7) = 16.9

So here you first want to open up the parenthesis by using the distributive property. (Is that what it's called)

So basically multiply each and every number by 0.5.

So 0.5 * - 2.5x - 0.5 * 4.7 = 16.9

Is what you get after doing that.

And then just multiply the numbers

So

-1.25 * x - 2.35 = 16.9

Add 2.35 to both sides

-1.25 * x = 19.25

And then divide both sides by - 1.25 to get

x = - 15.4

So there's your answer.

(Sorry I took so long btw)