Solving More Complex Equations Examples

Solve for x:

The number that's the least attached is the 4 (it's just happy not being in a relationship right now, okay?), so we first multiply each side by 4.

	multiply each side by 4
	simplify
	subtract 6 from each side
	simplify
	divide each side by 2
	and we're done

Oops, we forgot to check.

Solve for x:

With this equation, we've got two terms with variables. Luckily, they're the same variable, so we can combine the like terms.

	combine the x terms
	add 2 to each side
	simplify
	divide each side by 8
	simplify once more

Check please!

-8 – 24 – 2 = -34

-32 – 2 = -34

-34 = -34

Solve for y:

Bleh, that annoying variable is on the bottom again. We need to multiply each side by (y – 2) in order to get it out of the denominator.

	multiply by
	the 's on the left cancel
	distribute the -10
	subtract 20 from each side
	simplify
–34 ÷ (–10) = –10y ÷ (–10)	divide each side by -10
	now we're talkin'

And check: