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Algebra (all content)
Course: Algebra (all content)ย >ย Unit 2
Lesson 12: Old school equations with SalSolving an equation for a variable
Sal solves the equation P=2I+2w for the variable I. Created by Sal Khan and Monterey Institute for Technology and Education.
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How would you solve this?
-2(a+b)+5=x
Thanks guys :)(39 votes)
First, you would multiply the parentheses by the outside #. This is using the distributive property.
-2(a+b)= -2a-2b
The problem now looks like this.
-2a-2b+5=x
This equation cannot be simplified anymore because the variables of a,b, and x are unknown. Hope this helped. =)(13 votes)
Where do we start when we have the problem A/B=C when we are trying to solve for B(10 votes)
A good way to start would be to get the B "on top" of a fraction, rather than on the bottom. In this case, you can do that by multiplying both sides of the equation by B. This gives you A = BC.
Now we need to get rid of the C which is currently on the same side of the equation as B. We can do this by dividing both sides of the equation by C. This gives you A/C = B. And so we have solved for B: we have B = A/C.(27 votes)
Wouldn't the 2 cancel with 2w?(8 votes)
I was going to ask the same thing but I realized that doing so will effect the outcome of P.
Doing this will leave P alone. Just like Andrew said, p/2 -w would be the answer.(8 votes)
is there such a video called "What is a variable?"(6 votes)
Yes, there is! In fact, one right here in the website under Algebra I. Just use the search bar and type: "What is a variable." You should be able to find it.(11 votes)
How about if you have a word problem like, "A train makes a trip at 65 mi/h. A plane traveling 130 mi/h makes the same trip in 3 fewer hours. Write and solve an equation to find the distance of the trip."
I have this word problem for math homework and I tried solving it with the equation "65mi/h=130mi/h-3" but for some reason I keep on getting the wrong answer. Any help with this problem would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance! :)(6 votes)
The key phrase is "makes the same trip". This means both the car and the plane covered the same distance. So, your equation needs to be based upon:distance of car = distance of plane
Distance is calculated as Rate * Time.
You were given the rates: car = 65mph; plane = 130mph.
For time, you can use: h=car's time and h-3=plane's time.
Thus...
Car's distance = 65*h
Plane's distance = 130(h-3).
The equation becomes:65h = 130(h-3)
Once you solve for "h", you can find the distance by doing 65*h.
Hope this helps.(9 votes)
how would you 'un'-isolate a variable exactly? can i get some help?(4 votes)
What do you mean by "un"-isolating a variable?(1 vote)
I think the perimeter of a rectangle is P = 2(w+l) and I think it it much easier to use than the other one. Is this true?(3 votes)
what if the only coefficient is 1 and all the other #s on the left hand side are variables but on the right side it's like 67 + 93(1 vote)
If the variables were the same variable, add them and 67 + 93, for example:
67 + 93 = 2x + 8x
Add like terms.
160 = 10x
Isolate x, divide both sides by 10.
16 = x
If the variables are different, it depends which variable you were solving for. Say you were solving for x.
67 + 93 = 4x + 3y
Add like terms.
160 = 4x + 3y
Subtract 3y by both sides.
160 - 3y = 4x
Divide both sides by 4.
40 - 3y/4 = x(5 votes)
- How would I solve this equation?
x + 3y = 9(3 votes) 
I would think that the answer would be p-w=l because the 2's cancel out, right?(1 vote)
The thing here that you are missing is at this step:
P-2w=2l
Now, you divide both SIDES by 2, so that means:
(P-2w)/2=2l/2
You can simplify the right side of the equation to just be l, but the left hand side you must pay respects to the p/2 component.
So an answer would be P/2-w=l(3 votes)
Video transcript
Solve P equals 2l plus 2w for l. So this right here,
this is just the formula for the perimeter
of a rectangle. Perimeter is equal
to 2 times the length plus 2 times the width. But they just want us to solve
this equation right here, solve for l. So let's do that. So we have P is equal to
2 times l plus 2 times w. So we need to solve for l. So let's isolate all of
the l terms on one side. And the best way, we
could just do that by leaving it here
on the right and then getting rid of this 2w. And the best way to
get rid of this 2w is to subtract it
from the right. But if you're going to
subtract it from the right, you also have to
subtract it from the left if you want this
equality to hold. So you have to also
subtract it from the left. And so the left-hand
side becomes P minus 2w. And the right-hand
side, you get-- this 2w minus 2w cancels out. You just have a 2l. And then if you
want to solve for l, you just have to divide both
sides of this equation by 2. You just divide both sides
of this equation by 2. And we have isolated our l. We get l is equal to
P minus 2w over 2. Or if we wanted to
write it the other way, you could write l is equal
to P minus 2w over 2. And we are done.