Solving Equations in More Than One Step

[Grim]

Alright, so I'm hoping that this is the right place to post this, but I'm having some trouble with Type III and IIII equations. I can do Type I and II equations fine, but I just happened to miss the class that had instruction on III and IIII.

Anyways, I have a couple of questions that I have to solve and check, but I'll just post some type III equations that I'm having trouble with.

4z+12=7z-9


8y+2y=6y+16

Thanks!

 

[stapel]

Type III and IIII equations.

I'm afraid only your book knows what these are! :shock:

I think you're having trouble with solving linear equations if they require more than one step to complete. If that is the case, then try some online lessons:

. . . . .Google results for "solving linear equations"

If not, please reply with clarification. Thank you!

Eliz.

 

[Grim]

Thanks for the quick response. So I can complete questions that have a variable on one side, such as:

5x+4=34

The only time I have trouble is when there is an unknown on both sides of the equal sign.

 

[slytheringirl11279]

if teh unknow is the different you find teh unknow on one side first what is the problem you are working on

 

[Grim]

if teh unknow is the different you find teh unknow on one side first what is the problem you are working on

4z+12=7z-9
The unknown is the same on both sides, but I just can't figure out how to do this problem.

 

[Mrspi]

if teh unknow is the different you find teh unknow on one side first what is the problem you are working on

NO, NO, NO!!

There are volunteers here who have answered THOUSANDS of questions...please see what one of them says!

I'll offer my own opinion on one of your problems:

4z + 2 = 7z - 9

First, you want to get the variable to be on one side of the equation. Let's get rid of the 4z on the left side by adding -4z to BOTH sides of the equation:

4z + 2 + (-4z) = 7z - 9 + (-4z)

Simplify each side by adding like terms, and you get

2 = 3z - 9

Next, get the variable term by itself. To get rid of the "-9" add 9 to both sides of the equation:

2 + 9 = 3z - 9 + 9

Simplify each side again:

11 = 3z

Finally, you want 1z, but you've got 3z....divide both sides of the equation by 3 to "undo" the multiplication of z by 3:

11/3 = (3z) / 3

11/3 = z

You can check to see that this is correct by substituting 11/3 for "z" in the original equation. You should find that the original equation is true when you substitute your "solution" for the variable.

Obviously, the person who told you (VERY erroneously) that z = -1 did NOT bother to do a check.

 

[stapel]

if teh unknow is the different you find teh unknow on one side first what is the problem you are working on

Um... what...?

To Grim: I apologize for any confusion resulting from the (now deleted) "help" provided earlier. To correct what was said (and to say it in intelligible English):

. . . . .You have the equation 4z + 12 = 7z - 9. You want the
. . . . .variable-containing terms on one side, with the plain
. . . . .numbers on the other side, so add or subtract to both
. . . . .sides to move terms around. In this case, one method
. . . . .might be to subtract 4z from either side:

+4z + 12 = 7z - 9
-4z       -4z
-----------------
      12 = 3z - 9

. . . . .Then add 9 to either side, in the same manner, adding
. . . . .down to get the simplified equation. Then divide through
. . . . .by 3, and you're done!

The only time I have trouble is when there is an unknown on both sides of the equal sign.

Many of the lessons in the link (provided in the first reply) will explain how to solve this sort of equation, and will have many worked examples -- so you can learn how to solve these the right way! :wink:

Have fun!

Eliz.

 

[Grim]

Thanks, after reading the previous help, I realized that it was incorrect and stopped following it after she posted the problem with the answer being -1. I have since learned to do the problems, but I only wish I could have had this advice earlier. Your post clarifies a couple of things for me, so thank you very much!