SOLUTION: 14 = 2/3(9y - 15) Please show me how to solve the problem. I am a parent trying to help my child with her pre-Algebra. There is no example in her textbook (Prentice Hall Mat

Question 182487: 14 = 2/3(9y - 15)
Please show me how to solve the problem. I am a parent trying to help my child with her pre-Algebra. There is no example in her textbook (Prentice Hall Mathematics Pre-Algebra) FLORIDA. It has been many years since I was in school and, frankly, I can't figure it out! I don't know which operation to perform first.
Thanks.
Lin Daily
Found 3 solutions by tvandenberg, solver91311, MathGuyJoe:
Answer by tvandenberg(45)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
I would assume you mean:

So I'll solve that...
We want to remove the from the right side of the equation, so we want to multiply both sides by .

Now, perform that math, and add 15 to both sides to isolate the .

To solve for y, divide both sides by 9.

Answer by solver91311(24713)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!

Step 1. Multiply both sides of the equation by 3:

Step 2. Apply the distributive property ():

Step 3. Add 30 to both sides:

Step 4. Multiply both sides by

Which you should turn around so it reads right, just for neatness sake:

Check:

True statement, so answer checks.

John

Answer by MathGuyJoe(20)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Hi Lin,
When trying to solve an equation, you try to isolate the variable ('y' in this case) by itself. In this case it'll be a multi-step process.
14 = 2/3(9y - 15)

Given your equation, the first step will be to get rid of the parentheses by multiplying 2/3 by (9y - 15). To do this, you need to multiply each of the elements in the parentheses by 2/3:
14 = (2/3 * 9y) - (2/3 * 15)

This simplifies to:
14 = (6y) - (10)

No more fractions -- we like to see that. =) Next step is to isolate 6y by itself - to do this we'll add 10 to both sides of the equation:
14 (+ 10) = 6y - 10 (+ 10)

This simplifies to:
24 = 6y

Next we divide both sides by 6 (so we're left with just 'y'):
24 (/ 6) = 6y (/ 6)

This simplifies to:
4 = y (or y = 4)

So 4 is our answer. To double-check it, we can substitute '4' for 'y' back in our original equation:
14 = (2/3 * 9y) - (2/3 * 15)
14 = (2/3 * 9(4)) - (2/3 * 15)
14 = (2/3 * 36) - (2/3 * 15)
14 = (24) - (10)
14 = 14

Looks good! Hope this helps.
RELATED QUESTIONS
I am a parent trying to hel a struggling 12 year old with pre-algebra. My own Algebra is (answered by elima)
Could you show how to solve and graph this inequality? I am a parent trying to help my... (answered by jim_thompson5910)
I am trying to help my son with his pre algebra.....but it has been a long time...can you (answered by Earlsdon)
Hi I am a parent trying to help out my child work thru a problem in pre algrebra the... (answered by Alan3354)
I AM A PARENT TRYING TO HELP MY DAUGHTER DO THIS PROBLEMS I NEVER HAD THIS MAYBE YOU... (answered by venugopalramana,fractalier)
I am a grandmother trying to help my grandson with pre algebra, he's in Texas and called... (answered by rapaljer)
I need help i am a parent trying to help my son with his homework his teacher gave them... (answered by ankor@dixie-net.com)
I AM A PARENT TRYING TO HELP MY 13 YR. OLD WITH HIS ALGEBRA. I HAVE BEEN OUT OF SCHOOL... (answered by checkley71)
I am a parent I want to help my child but i don't know how to do this. I'm not asking for (answered by Alan3354,josmiceli,ankor@dixie-net.com)