OpenStudy (anonymous):

43=7w-15-5w i know im asking questions a lot but i have to because i am too far behined and dont get it

5 years ago
OpenStudy (farmdawgnation):

So it looks like the first step you should take is to combine like terms. Such as the 7w and the -5w. Do you understand how to do that?

5 years ago
OpenStudy (anonymous):

yes

5 years ago
OpenStudy (farmdawgnation):

Ok, so what do you get after you combine those terms? What does the equation look like?

5 years ago
OpenStudy (anonymous):

well i know im supposed to find out what W is...but it would be 2w right

5 years ago
OpenStudy (farmdawgnation):

Yup. Which means your equation would look like $$43=2w-15$$ right? Does that make sense so far?

5 years ago
OpenStudy (anonymous):

yes thanks

5 years ago
OpenStudy (farmdawgnation):

Ok, so do you know what to do next?

5 years ago
OpenStudy (anonymous):

multiply 43 by both sides?

5 years ago
OpenStudy (farmdawgnation):

That would yield $$43*43=43*(2w-15)$$... that seems to be more complicated. Not less complicated. Let's try something else. What's your next idea?

5 years ago
OpenStudy (anonymous):

Multiply 15 by both sides? Im really stupid hahaha so yeah

5 years ago
OpenStudy (farmdawgnation):

You are correct that we want to do something with the 15, but multiply isn't quite it. We want to get rid of the $$-15$$ on the right hand side. Make it completely disappear (or equal zero - either way you want to think about it).

5 years ago
OpenStudy (anonymous):

okay got it

5 years ago
OpenStudy (farmdawgnation):

Alright, so what are you going to do?

5 years ago
OpenStudy (anonymous):

so what we do to one side we do to the other

5 years ago
OpenStudy (farmdawgnation):

Well, yes, but what can we do to both sides to make the 15 disappear?

5 years ago
OpenStudy (anonymous):

divide

5 years ago
OpenStudy (farmdawgnation):

Nope. It's a $$-15$$, so we should add 15 to both sides.

5 years ago
OpenStudy (anonymous):

oh okay

5 years ago
OpenStudy (farmdawgnation):

$$43=2w−15$$ $$+15$$ $$+15$$

5 years ago
OpenStudy (farmdawgnation):

What does that make?

5 years ago
OpenStudy (anonymous):

if its on one side then 58=2w right

5 years ago
OpenStudy (farmdawgnation):

You got it, boss. So now you're left with $$58=2w$$. Any idea about how to find $$w$$?

5 years ago
OpenStudy (anonymous):

im guessing multipication...

5 years ago
OpenStudy (farmdawgnation):

Sorry, but no. Division, actually. When you're working with these, generally addition and subtraction are used for moving things from one side of the equation to the other and multiplication is used to *attach* numbers to variables/letters and division is used to *separate* numbers from variables/letters. Make sense?

5 years ago
OpenStudy (anonymous):

Yes:)

5 years ago
OpenStudy (farmdawgnation):

Ok, so how would you finish out this problem?

5 years ago
OpenStudy (anonymous):

would W be 29?

5 years ago
OpenStudy (farmdawgnation):

It is indeed! :) Excellent job!

5 years ago
OpenStudy (anonymous):

Thank you so much:)

5 years ago
OpenStudy (farmdawgnation):

Not a problem, happy to help! Please do note that it is nice to award a medal to me if you thought I had the best answer. It's a way to say "Thanks" to the user who helps you out the most.

5 years ago
OpenStudy (anonymous):

Thanks:)

5 years ago