9 The British and French continued to capture American ships because they-*
(10 Points)
Believed the American merchant ships were really enemy ships
Wanted Americans to angry enough to join the war on someone's side
Were trying to acquire more supplies for the war effort
Didn't want Americans to sell supplies to their enemy

the answer would be:

b. race

logging hope this

simplify brackets

8 - 2a - 7 = a + 40

simplify 8 - 2a - 7 to -2a + 1

-2a + 1 = a + 40

add 2a to both sides

1 = a + 40 + 2a

simplify a + 40 + 2a to 3a + 40

1 = 3a + 40

subtract 40 from both sides

1 - 40 = 3a

simplify 1 - 40 o -39

-39 = 3a

divide both sides by 3

-39/3 = a

simplify 39/3 to 13

-13 = a

switch sides

a = -13

i believe its escaped