How to Solve Equations with Parentheses
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To understand these concepts, you need to be comfortable with multiplying numbers by variables, adding variables together, and resolving parentheses. You’re now going to use these skills to solve equations. That means the rules for equations are still in play.
Before you start changing sides and changing sign, and getting to stand alone, you have to use what you know about algebra and PEMDAS. Here’s a recipe, with examples to follow.
Rule
- 1.
- Think PEMDAS! First, resolve the parentheses.
- 2.
- Move all the terms with only numbers to one side of the equation. Remember to change signs on numbers you move.
- 3.
- Move all the terms with in them to the side without any numbers. Remember to change signs on the terms you move.
- 4.
- Simplify the terms on both sides.
- 5.
- Multiply or divide on both sides by the number preventing from standing alone.
Example 1
Solve the equation for .
Example 2
Solve the equation for .
Think About This
It’s important to think about negative numbers as fully-fledged, actual numbers. This means that it doesn’t matter if the number attached to has a minus sign or not. You should just follow the recipe and then multiply or divide by the number attached to the .
Example 3
Solve the equation for .
