Abiologist tracks the numbers of bacteria living in a water tank. the biologist used a function that represents the amount of a certain chemical solution that is added to the water.
-when the water has no chemicals, the number of bacteria (b) is 1200 per gallon.
-for each tablespoon of the chemical solution (c) added to each gallon of water. the number of bacteria decreases by 75 per gallon.
how much of the chemical, in tablespoons, must be added to a 500-gallon tank to reduce the bacteria count to a safe 300 bacteria per gallon?

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.

answer: c

substitute in the values.

for a:

f(0) = 0 + 9

f(0) = 9

a is a solution.

for b:

f(7) = 14 + 9

f(7) = 23

b is a solution.

for c:

f (3) = 6 + 9

f(3) = 15

c is not a solution. it's supposed to be 14.

for d:

f(2) = 4 + 9

f(2)= 13

d is a solution.