SOLUTION: 7. In the following equation a, b, and c are constants. In other words, a, b, and c should be treated like numbers. x is the variable. Solve the equation for x. Show each step.

Algebra ->  College  -> Linear Algebra -> SOLUTION: 7. In the following equation a, b, and c are constants. In other words, a, b, and c should be treated like numbers. x is the variable. Solve the equation for x. Show each step.       Log On


   

Question 757029: 7. In the following equation a, b, and c are constants. In other words, a, b, and c should be treated like numbers. x is the variable. Solve the equation for x. Show each step.
a+bx=c
Okay this is the problem i have been given and im confused how to treat the a,b, and c as numbers. Could you explain how i could treat them as numbers?
Answer by josgarithmetic(39616) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Treating a, b, and c as numbers while they are not shown by the digits means you use all the rules that you know or have studied but do not perform any computations between any of a, b, or c.

a+bx=c
Use additive inverse of a:
a%2B-a%2Bbx=c%2B%28-a%29
0%2Bbx=c%2B%28-a%29
Use the multiplicative inverse of b:
%28bx%29%281%2Fb%29=%28c%2B%28-a%29%29%281%2Fb%29
b%281%2Fb%29x=%28c%2B%28-a%29%29%281%2Fb%29
1%2Ax=%28c%2B%28-a%29%29%281%2Fb%29
A little more simplifying without further explanation:
x=%28c-a%29%2Fb