I am assuming you are in the early stages of learning Algebra. Here are the
detailed steps:
2x - 4y = 8
To rearrange an equation, we make use of this basic fact: if you perform the
same allowed operation to both sides of the equation, you maintain equality.
If A=B then A+2 = B+2, A/2 = B/2, etc...
I. Subtract 2x from both sides (the '2x' goes away on left hand side (LHS)):
2x -4y -2x = 8 - 2x
-4y = 8 - 2x (see how LHS has 0x ('zero' times x))
II. Divide both sides by -4:
-4y/(-4) = (8 - 2x)/(-4) (LHS becomes 'one' times y, which is written simply as 'y')
y = -2x/(-4) + 8/(-4)
This is in the form y = mx + b
m is the slope (rise / run) and here it is 1/2
b is the y-intercept, it is where the line meets the y-axis and is
-2 in this case. Note that the y-axis is where x=0, so if you
set x=0 in y=mx+b you get y=b. Hope this makes sense(?)
