I am NEW and DO NOT understand ANYTHING to do with algebra

[notamathgirl]

I am taking an online Algebra course. I never took algebra in school so I am COMPLETELY LOST. Nothing about this type of math makes sense to me. Can someone PLEASE help.
For instance 0.5 + 2 = x - 0.3? Now I know that 5 + 2 = 7 but how is it a Negative 0.7? I do not know ANY of the formulas at all! I have tried to grasp the concept but :? I am completely stumped! Please explaine in laymen terms because I do not know any of the algebra lingo.
Thank you so much.

 

[Guest]

0.5 + 2 = x - 0.3

the aim is to get the unknown(x) by itself. Do this by adding ).3 to each side, this will cacel out the number on the right side.

0.5 + 2 + 0.3 = x -0.3 + 0.3

0.5 + 2 + 0.3 = x

2.8 = x

 

[notamathgirl]

ummmmmmmmmm

Nope still NOT gettin it. I am beginning to think that it is HOPELESS.

 

[Guest]

ok start again..what is your problem(one at a time) you are tring to solve or understand?

 

[notamathgirl]

0.5 + 2 = x - 0.3

the aim is to get the unknown(x) by itself. Do this by adding ).3 to each side, this will cacel out the number on the right side.

0.5 + 2 + 0.3 = x -0.3 + 0.3

0.5 + 2 + 0.3 = x

2.8 = x

my text gave a different answer...
0.5-1.2 = x - 0.3
-0.7 = x - 0.3
+0.3 + 0.3 = -0.4 =x
then it goes on to say
CHECK
0.5 - 1.2 = then it has the question mark symbol over the equal sign then this is there
-0.4 - 0.3
-0.7=-0.7
The more I look and try to figure it out the more I get confused
:shock:

 

[Guest]

ok...now we are getting somewhere. The problem was written incorrectly first time.

0.5-1.2 = x - 0.3


first step do the addition on the left side and rewrite the right side as it is
0.5 -1.2 = - 0.7, think of having 50 cents and spending $1.20, how much dou owe?

then
- 0.7 = x - 0.3
now to get the "x" by itself we need to remove the (-0.3) , how by adding (0.3) , but it needs to be done to both sides.

- 0.7 + 0.3 = x - 0.3 + 0.3

-0.4 = x
how is that for a start?

 

[Denis]

Re: ummmmmmmmmm

Nope still NOT gettin it. I am beginning to think that it is HOPELESS.

Don't get all tied up in frustration, mgirl; you'll find it's EASY once you get it...

Have a look at this:

3 + 5 = 2 + 6 : right?

Now pretend this is written this way:
x + 5 = 2 + 6 : the 3 has been replaced by x; now you have to find what x equals

x + 5 = 8 : ok?

Now subtract 5 from each side:
x + 5 - 5 = 8 - 5
x + 0 = 3
x = 3 : see how easy it is?

Yours works EXACTLY same way:
x - 0.3 = 0.5 - 1.2
x - .3 = -.7 : ok?

Now add .3 to both sides:
x - .3 + .3 = -.7 + .3
x - 0 = -.4
x = -.4

NOTICE that the trick is to add or subtract in order to leave the x by itself.