How do i get y by itself

Question

jigglypuff314 · Answer

Hello and Welcome to Openstudy! :)

there are many ways to "get y by itself"
and the process is sometimes different based on the problem.
if you have a specific question, feel free to ask :)

getting y by itself usually requires the properties of equality.
the Additive Property of Equality is when you add the same value to both sides of an equation
the Subtraction Property of Equality
the Multiplicative Property of Equality
and the Division Property of Equality

jigglypuff314 · Answer

for example
if given the equation  4x + 2y = 8   and they want you to solve for y
you want the value "2y" to be by itself first :)
the "4x" is on that side with it right now, so we will subtract "4x" from both sides
to cancel it out, because  4x - 4x = 0   just like how  4 - 4 = 0
so  4x + 2y = 8
    -4x           -4x
so you get   2y = -4x + 8      but then there is a 2 attached to the y
"2y" means "2 times y"
you know how  2 times (1 over 2) = 1?
so if we multiply both sides by one half, we get...
   2y = -4x + 8
*1/2   *1/2    *1/2
    y = -2x + 4
and so that is how you get y by itself for such a problem :)
hope this helped!

anonymous · Answer

(20+4squared2)divided(15-3)= can somebody show me how to solve this problem step by step please

jigglypuff314 · Answer

you mean
$$\frac{ 20 + 4^{2} (2) }{ 15 - 3 }$$

jigglypuff314 · Answer

20 + 4^2 (2)
= 20 + (4)(4)(2)
= 20 + (4)(8)
= 20 + 32
= 52
then you should know what 15 - 3 is...