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How Do You Solve for a Variable in Terms of Another Variable?

Solve for a in terms of b and for b in terms of a in this equation: a + 2b = 23

Summary

  1. 'a' and 'b' are variables
  2. Subtract '2b' from both sides to solve for 'a'
  3. The equation becomes 'a=23-2b'
  4. We can't combine anything on the right hand side because they are not like terms
  5. We have 'a' in terms of 'b'!
  6. Subtract 'a' from both sides to solve for 'b'
  7. Divide both sides by 2 to get 'b' alone
  8. We have 'b' in terms of 'a'!

Notes

    1. 'a' and 'b' are variables
    2. We need to get 'a' in terms of 'b'
    3. This means that 'a' is by itself on one side, and all the 'b's are on the other side
    1. 'b' is a variable
    2. Subtraction is the opposite of addition
    1. 'a' and 'b' are variables
    2. Subtraction is the opposite of addition
    1. 'b' is a variable
    1. This means that 'a' is by itself on one side, and all the 'b's are on the other side
    1. 'a' and 'b' are variables
    2. We need to get 'b' in terms of 'a'
    3. This means that 'b' is by itself on one side, and all the 'a's are on the other side
    1. 'a' is a variable
    2. Subtraction is the opposite of addition
    1. 'a' and 'b' are variables
    1. Division is the opposite of multiplication
    1. 'b' is a variable
    1. 'a' and 'b' are variables
    2. This means that 'b' is by itself on one side, and all the 'a's are on the other side