Question

i need help with the following problem:2.1q-4.7-1.8q=0.7q-4.8. can anyone help me work through this?

Answer 1

Yes
Goal: You want to combine like terms.

What is a like term?
Like terms are individual numbers that have like quantities. For instance, 2.1 q is a like term with 0.7q
You want to simplify it by turning 2.1q and 0.7q into one number of (Coefficient)q
Also, -4.7 and -4.8 are like terms.

So the process:
First simplify each side
Left:
2.1q - 1.8q = .3q
-4.7 = -4.7
Left side simplified: .3q - 4.7

Right:
.7q - 4.8 is already simplified.
Next, write the equation with both sides simplified:
.3q - 4.7 = .7q - 4.8
Simplify like terms, one term at a time to prevent errors from rushing.
-4.7 = .4q - 4.8
.1 = .4q
Now divide .1 by .4
q = .25

I apologize if I had a math error, but I showed you the process so you should be able to fix it if I did. Always check your work.