Solve x − 2y = 4
Linear equation, worked out line by line the way a teacher would write it.
Answer
| Solution | y = x/2 − 2 |
Step-by-step solution
5 steps-
1 Givenx - 2 y = 4
Solve for y.
-
2 Subtract x from both sides
An equation stays true as long as you do the same thing to both sides, like adding the same weight to both pans of a balance. Adding or subtracting the same amount on both sides moves a term to the other side, where it appears with the opposite sign.
- 2 y = 4 - xMove the constant terms to the right.
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3 Divide both sides by -2
Dividing both sides by -2 undoes the multiplication by -2, so the variable is left on its own. Both sides change in the same way, so the equation stays true (dividing by 0 is the one thing that is never allowed).
y = \frac{4 - x}{-2} -
4 Simplifyy = \frac{x}{2} - 2
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5 Read off the slope m and the y-intercept b from y = mx + bm = \frac{1}{2},\quad b = -2
Table of values
| x | y |
|---|---|
| −2 | −3 |
| −1 | −5/2 |
| 0 | −2 |
| 1 | −3/2 |
| 2 | −1 |
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