Consider the following equation: 2{\color{red}m}{\color{blue}t} = 1

Notice that this equation has two variables, {\color{red}m} and {\color{blue}t}. Suppose we want to solve the equation for the variable {\color{blue}t}.

To isolate {\color{blue}t}, we apply the multiplication principle and divide both sides of the equation by 2{\color{red}m}, treating {\color{red}m} as though it were a constant:

\begin{align*} \require{cancel} 2mt &= 1 \\[5pt] \dfrac{2mt}{2m} &= \dfrac{1}{2m} \\[5pt] \dfrac{\cancel{2m}t}{\cancel{2m}} &= \dfrac{1}{2m} \\[5pt] t &= \dfrac{1}{2m} \\[5pt] \end{align*}

Next, we'll take a look at an example where we need to apply both the addition and multiplication principles.

FLAG

Solve the equation 5ky-13=7 for the variable y.

EXPLANATION

We need to isolate y. To do this, we first add 13 to both sides of the equation:

\begin{align*} \require{cancel} 5ky-13 &= 7 \\[5pt] 5ky-13+13 &= 7+13 \\[5pt] 5ky &= 20 \end{align*}

Then, we divide both sides of the equation by 5k\mathbin{:}

\begin{align*} \require{cancel} 5ky &= 20 \\[5pt] \dfrac{5ky}{5k} &= \dfrac{20}{5k} \\[5pt] \dfrac{\cancel{5k}y}{\cancel{5k}} &= \dfrac{20}{5k} \\[5pt] y &= \dfrac{20}{5k} \end{align*}

Finally, we can further simplify the right-hand side:

\begin{align*} y &= \dfrac{5\cdot 4}{5k}\\[5pt] y &= \dfrac{\cancel{5}\cdot 4}{\cancel{5}k}\\[5pt] y &= \dfrac{4}{k}\\[5pt] \end{align*}

FLAG

If $3kx=5,$ then $x=$

a
$\dfrac{3}{5k}$
b
$5+3k$
c
$\dfrac{5}{3k}$
d
$5-3k$
e
$-\dfrac{5}{3k}$

If $2kn - 3= 5,$ then $n=$

a
$\dfrac{4}{k}$
b
$\dfrac{1}{8k}$
c
$\dfrac{k}{8}$
d
$\dfrac{3}{8k}$
e
$\dfrac{k}{4}$

Solve the equation \dfrac 34 kx + 9 = 2 for the variable x.

EXPLANATION

First, we multiply both sides of the equation by 4 to get rid of the fraction:

\begin{align*} \dfrac 34 kx + 9 &= 2 \\[5pt] 4 \cdot \left( \dfrac 34 kx + 9 \right) &= 4 \cdot 2 \\[5pt] 3kx + 36 &= 8 \end{align*}

Now, we need to isolate x. To do this, we first subtract 36 from both sides of the equation:

\begin{align*} 3kx + 36 &= 8 \\[5pt] 3kx + 36 - 36 &= 8 - 36\\[5pt] 3kx &= -28 \end{align*}

Then, we divide both sides of the equation by 3k\mathbin{:}

\begin{align*} \require{cancel} 3kx &= -28 \\[5pt] \dfrac{3kx}{3k} &= \dfrac{-28}{3k} \\[5pt] \dfrac{\cancel{3k}x}{\cancel{3k}} &= \dfrac{-28}{3k} \\[5pt] x &= -\dfrac{28}{3k} \end{align*}

FLAG

If $2lx=\dfrac{6}{5},$ then $x=$

a
$\dfrac{3}{5l}$
b
$3+5l$
c
$\dfrac{5}{3l}$
d
$3-5l$
e
$-\dfrac{2}{3l}$

If $\dfrac{1}{2}kn-5=-2,$ then $n=$

a
$\dfrac{1}{6k}$
b
$\dfrac{6}{k}$
c
$-\dfrac{6k}{5}$
d
$k+6$
e
$\dfrac{k}{6}$

Solve the equation \dfrac{1}{3} = -\dfrac{ax}{5} for the variable x.

EXPLANATION

We need to isolate x. To do this, we first cross-multiply:

\begin{align*} \dfrac{1}{3} &= -\dfrac{ax}{5} \\[5pt] \dfrac{1}{3} &= \dfrac{-ax}{5} \\[5pt] 5 \cdot 1 &= 3 \cdot (-ax) \\[5pt] 5 &= -3ax \\[5pt] \end{align*}

Then, we divide both sides of the equation by -3a\mathbin{:}

\begin{align*} \require{cancel} 5 &= -3ax \\[5pt] \dfrac{5}{-3a} &= \dfrac{-3ax}{-3a} \\[5pt] \dfrac{5}{-3a} &= \dfrac{\cancel{-3a}x}{\cancel{-3a}} \\[5pt] -\dfrac{5}{3a} &= x \\[5pt] x &= -\dfrac{5}{3a} \end{align*}

FLAG

If $\dfrac{8nx}{3}=\dfrac{6}{5},$ then $x=$

a
$\dfrac{8}{3n}$
b
$\dfrac{9}{20n}$
c
$\dfrac{9}{10n}$
d
$\dfrac{9}{40n}$
e
$\dfrac{6}{5n}$

If $-\dfrac{5zw}{4}=\dfrac{10}{3},$ then $w=$

a
$-\dfrac{3z}{8}$
b
$-\dfrac{8}{3z}$
c
$ \dfrac{8z}{3}$
d
$ 8-3z$
e
$8z- 3$
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