1. The problem is to solve the equation $$9(q + 1) = 9$$. 2. First, divide both sides of the equation by 9 to isolate the term $(q + 1)$. The formula used is dividing both sides by the same nonzero number to keep equality: $$\frac{9(q + 1)}{9} = \frac{9}{9}$$ 3. Simplify the division by canceling 9: $$\cancel{9}(q + 1) \div \cancel{9} = \cancel{9} \div \cancel{9}$$ which simplifies to: $$q + 1 = 1$$ 4. Next, subtract 1 from both sides to solve for $q$. The rule is subtracting the same number from both sides keeps equality: $$q + 1 - 1 = 1 - 1$$ 5. Simplify both sides: $$q + \cancel{1} - \cancel{1} = 0$$ which gives: $$q = 0$$ 6. The solution to the equation is $q = 0$. This completes the process of solving the equation step-by-step.