b = - [tex]\frac{1}{2}[/tex]
multiply both sides by 2(b + 1) to eliminate the fraction
3 = 3× 2(b + 1)
3 = 6(b + 1) = 6b + 6 ( subtract 6 from both sides )
- 3 = 6b ( divide both sides by 6 )
b = - [tex]\frac{3}{6}[/tex] = - [tex]\frac{1}{2}[/tex]