When the coefficient (let’s call this A) of the variable
is other than 1, it is simplest for students to
treat A as if it were 1 to begin with. This approach
can also be thought of as substituting a single variable
with coefficient 1 for something more complex,
a strategy students will use later in trigonometry
and calculus. The problem is then worked out in
the manner described above. Then, because these
solutions represent not x but Ax, the original coefficient
is brought back. The last step is to divide each
solution by the coefficient, A