In order to solve the equation 2X +1 = 4X - 7, combine the constants ("like" terms) by adding 7 to both sides of the equation to give 2X +
8 = 4X, Then combine the unknown variables, that is, the first-order X-terms (like terms) and their coefficients by subtracting 2X from both sides of the equation to give 2X = 8. Dividing both sides by 2 gives X =
4.
The CLIT
process can be used to solve more complex equations including but not limited to the quadratic solution derivation for
second-order polynomials and the derivation of the Pythagorean theorem using similar
triangles, the latter also providing the reason why the product of the means equals the product of the extremes.