Question 84548
Given:
.
{{{-55 = -8y}}}
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Transpose the problem (reverse the sides) to get it into a little more standard form:
.
{{{-8y = -55}}}
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Divide both sides by -8, the multiplier of the y term:
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{{{(-8)y/(-8) = (-55)/(-8)}}}
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On the left side the -8 in the denominator cancels with the -8 in the numerator and you
are just left with y:
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{{{(cross(-8))*y/(cross(-8)) = (-55)/(-8)}}}
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{{{y = (-55)/(-8)}}}
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On the right side, when you divide a minus quantity into a minus quantity you get a 
plus answer. Therefore, the minus sign in the denominator effectively cancels the minus
sign in the numerator and the answer becomes:
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{{{y = 55/8}}}
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That's the answer. You can reduce the right side by dividing 8 into 55 and converting
it to a decimal 6.875, making the answer:
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{{{y = 6.875}}}
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Hope this helps you understand some of the basic processes in solving equations.