My Math Forum Simplification

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 April 16th, 2010, 02:58 PM #1 Senior Member   Joined: Mar 2010 From: Melbourne Posts: 178 Thanks: 0 Simplification Hi, I have: 4y - 5(a) = 3 When I simplify to find y, I get, 4y = 3+5(a) y = 3+5(a)/4 Is this right ? wulfgarpro.
 April 16th, 2010, 03:58 PM #2 Senior Member   Joined: Apr 2008 Posts: 435 Thanks: 0 Re: Simplification You might have intended it correctly, but as you wrote it, you have y = 3 + (5a/4). This is not correct, as when you divided both sides by 4, the right side should look like (3 + 5a)/4.
 April 16th, 2010, 03:59 PM #3 Senior Member   Joined: Feb 2009 From: Adelaide, Australia Posts: 1,519 Thanks: 3 Re: Simplification $4y= 3+5a\\y = \frac{3+5a}{4}\\y = \frac34+\frac{5a}{4}$
 April 16th, 2010, 06:05 PM #4 Senior Member   Joined: Mar 2010 From: Melbourne Posts: 178 Thanks: 0 Re: Simplification Thanks jason.spade, makes much more sense now. What should I read up on to get better at simplification of algebraic equations ? Thanks for your help! wulfgarpro.
 April 17th, 2010, 02:32 AM #5 Global Moderator   Joined: Dec 2006 Posts: 21,110 Thanks: 2326 You probably know the basic rules. Try inventing an equation completely at random and then trying to simplify it. You will sometimes succeed and sometimes not (in which case, try to see whether simplification is impossible). After a while, you will start to think you're getting the hang of it, but take care that confident application of the correct rules doesn't get spoilt by some careless slip in arithmetic. Try to devise ways of checking whether your work is correct. Let us know how you get on, and what you might like to explore next.
 April 17th, 2010, 06:01 AM #6 Senior Member   Joined: Mar 2010 From: Melbourne Posts: 178 Thanks: 0 Re: Simplification Thanks skipjack! wulfgarpro.
 April 17th, 2010, 04:50 PM #7 Senior Member   Joined: Mar 2010 From: Melbourne Posts: 178 Thanks: 0 Re: Simplification I'm now trying to find x in: -2x - 6(8(B)/10) - 2(A) - 2(B) = 0 -- The steps I am taking are: Subtract the 2(B) from 8(B) -2x -6(6(B)/10) - 2(A) = 0 Take the 2x to 0 and 0 to 2x (change the signs) 2x = 6(6(B)/10) + 2(A) Multiply each of the coefficients in the brackets by 6 2x = 36(B)/60 + 2(A) Divide everything by 2 to find x x = (36(B)/60 + 2(A))/2 -- Is this correct ? wulfgarpro.
 April 18th, 2010, 04:16 AM #8 Global Moderator   Joined: Dec 2006 Posts: 21,110 Thanks: 2326 No. The original equation is equivalent to -2x - (48/10)B - 2A - 2B = 0. Combining the terms involving B gives -2x - (68/10)B - 2A = 0. Hence -2x = (68/10)B + 2A. Dividing that by -2 gives x = -(34/10)B - A, i.e., x = -17B/5 - A. Note: you should start a new topic for a new question.

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