Answer
$k = -20$
Work Step by Step
$-17 = 3 + k$
In order to solve this algebraic expression, we need to isolate the variable $k$ on the R.H.S by subtracting $3$ from both sides to eliminate constants from the R.H.S. This is done as shown below:
$-17 - 3 = 3 + k - 3$
Simplifying, we have:
$-20 = k$
Rearranging this, we have:
$k = -20$
This shows that the equation has a possible solution at $k = -20$
Testing:
We replace for $k$ with $-20$ in the original equation as shown below:
$-17 = 3 + k$
$-17 = 3 + -20$
Simplifying the equation we get:
$-17 = -17$
This proofs that the statement $k = -20$ is true.
