Question 256594: can you explain to me how to solve for a variable? My parents don't even know. Found 2 solutions by checkley77, drk:Answer by checkley77(12844) (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website! Example:
7x+5=40 subtract 5 from both sides of this equation.
7x+5-5=40-5
7x=35 now divide both sides by 7.
7x/7=35/7
x=5 solution.
Proof:
7*5+5=40
35+5=40
40=40
You can put this solution on YOUR website! I'm not sure how much detail you want or ned, but here it goes. I use 6 steps to solve for a variable:
step 1 - check for distributive property on the left and right side. If you see it, apply distributive property.
step 2 - change back to back signs into single signs. +(+) = + ; +(-) = - ; -(+) = - ; -(-) = +. Notice that if the signs are the same back to back, the single sign is +.
step 3 - combine like terms on the left and right. Like terms have the same exact letter combination. Add x's with x's, then y's with y's and regular number with regular numbers.
step 4 - do the opposite of what you see. take the opposite of the number you see to isolate the variable.
step 5 - what you do to one side you do to the other side. You want the equation to be balanced.
step 6 - letter = number. This is what you want at the end of the problem as the answer.
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hope that helps as you look at your examples and homework.
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