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Equation in One Variable


Date: 04/13/97 at 15:13:33
From: steph
Subject: Adding and Subtracting Terms

    14a + 3 = 11 - 2a                                                 
-    2a     =      2a                                                     
    _________________                                                
    12a + 3 = 11     

Is this right so far and how do you complete this equation?


Date: 04/13/97 at 18:06:02
From: Doctor Steven
Subject: Re: Adding and Subtracting Terms

No.  Actually, you needed to add 2a to both sides instead of 
subtracting. You should get:

    14a + 3 = 11 - 2a                                                 
+    2a     =      2a                                                     
    _________________   
    16a + 3 = 11
        - 3 =    - 3
    _________________
    16a     = 8

Then divide both sides of the equation by 16 to get:

 a = 8/16 = 1/2.

Hope this helps.

-Doctor Steven,  The Math Forum
 Check out our web site!  http://mathforum.org/dr.math/

Associated Topics:
Middle School Algebra

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