document.write( "Question 466497: Beginning & Intermediate Algebra: Please explain in simple terms, what does the addition/subtraction and multiplication/division properties means? \r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "How do I know what to substract or add in linear equations?
\n" ); document.write( "Which number to add or subtract on both sides and how do I know when to do either?
\n" ); document.write( "Also what is the definition of a slope on a graph? \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #319811 by richard1234(7193) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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1. The four basic arithmetic operators have certain properties, i.e. addition and multiplication are commutative; e.g. a+b = b+a and a*b = b*a for all a,b. Subtraction is not commutative but it is sometimes referred to anticommutative, because a-b = -(b-a) for all a,b. Division doesn't hold either of these properties.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "For the second and third questions you just have to be familiar with equations, and that takes practice. In order to solve for a variable in a linear equation such as 5x + 3 = 13, you should generally isolate the variable from the rest. Here you subtract 3 from both sides, leaving 5x = 10, divide both sides by 5 to get x = 2.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "For the fourth question, slope is defined as rise over run; i.e. the \"steepness\" of the graph (but not quite). If you have two points you can find the slope by taking the change in the y-coordinates and dividing it by the change in the x-coordinates. \n" ); document.write( "

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