Why would you want to solve a literal equation for a variable when you could simply plug in known values and then solve the resulting linear equation?

Question

anonymous · Answer

once you have the literal equation solved you can use any numbers, not just the ones given

anonymous · Answer

The idea is the difference between finding what is called a general solution and a specific solution. Like reinventing the wheel a specific solution must be "resolved" each time but a general solution (when you solve for some variable in a literal equation) one just plugs in the unknows and does the arithmetic, it was "presolved". Another reason to solve a literal equation might be the insight it gives you in terms of how the solved variable responds to changes in the others (e.g. linear, proportional, inversely proportional, as the square..) Finally with use of the computer or graphing calculator you are there is LITTLE point in solving a literal equation. These tools can easily numerically solve any equation for any unknown given the others. They use things like newton's method to do this and they do it very fast. Here is a video I made on an intro using solver in a TI-84 graphing calculator http://www.youtube.com/user/themathdude