document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=445436>Question 445436</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> What do you do when an equation does not balance? </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #306826 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=MathLover1><B>MathLover1(20850)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=MathLover1><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=MathLover1><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=306826\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> The equation will be in balance if and only if the <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=left ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"left\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > side is equal to <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=right ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"right\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > side; so, finding the lowest whole number ratio of coefficients that will balance the equation. One way to find this ratio is to set one of the unknown coefficients equal to 1 and solve for the remaining coefficient will help you to balance it.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Remember, the idea is to \"balance\" the equation, so what you do to one side, you must do to the other.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Equations involving unknown variables are solved by balancing the left member and the right member. \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "For example, in the equation <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=y+%2B+5+=+12 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"y+%2B+5+=+12\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >, I know that the left member must equal <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=12 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"12\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > for it to balance with the right member. This means <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=y ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"y\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > would be <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=7 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"7\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > because <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=7+%2B+5+=+12 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"7+%2B+5+=+12\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >. \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "That one is easy enough to do the math without a formal procedure. But because algebraic equations can become much longer and more calculated, a system is <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=necessary ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"necessary\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >to <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=solve ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"solve\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > for <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=variable ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"variable\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > and balance equations.\r<BR>\n" );
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