SOLUTION: Solve the equation -3(5-y)+2^4=18y I have a question. I put this equation in the simplifier...does the -y necessarily have to go in front of the 5? If so why?

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Question 144704This question is from textbook Algebra 1 An Incremental Development
: Solve the equation -3(5-y)+2^4=18y
I have a question. I put this equation in the simplifier...does the -y necessarily have to go in front of the 5? If so why? This question is from textbook Algebra 1 An Incremental Development

Found 2 solutions by solver91311, jim_thompson5910:
Answer by solver91311(24713) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
The 'Simplifier' is kind of whacked, and gives you a misleading result (whether you enter it as -3%285-y%29%2B2%5E4=18y or -3%28-y%2B5%29%2B2%5E4=18y). You can follow the process in the simplifier down to just before it says that 0=0.

You get: -15y%2B1=0. From here you can say -15y=-1 and then y=1%2F15. I would leave the answer in this form rather than the ugly repeating decimal the solver provides.

Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
As a rule, don't completely trust what a computer tells you. In this case, the simplifier you are referring to is a little strange.


+-3%285-y%29%2B2%5E4=18y+ Start with the given equation


+-3%285-y%29%2B16=18y+ Raise 2 to the 4th power to get 16


-15%2B3y%2B16=18y Distribute


3y%2B1=18y Combine like terms on the left side


3y=18y-1Subtract 1 from both sides


3y-18y=-1 Subtract 18y from both sides


-15y=-1 Combine like terms on the left side


y=%28-1%29%2F%28-15%29 Divide both sides by -15 to isolate y



y=1%2F15 Reduce

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Answer:
So our answer is y=1%2F15 (which is approximately y=0.0667 in decimal form)