Sure, I'll gladly help. This isn't actually geometry, it's algebra.
1. 8-5s = 1. We NEED to solve for s, to do that we must get S on it's own side, and every other number on the other side of the = sign. Once this happens, we're finished! It's that simple.
Step 1) Subract 8 from both sides. Because there is not an "s" near the 8, 8 will be the easiest number to eliminate. Doing this gives us -5s = 1-8. This is just -5s = -7
Step 2) Lets get rid of that 5, shall we? In order to get rid of 5 infront of the s, we must divide both sides by 5 (since the opposite of multiplication is division). This gives us the equation -s = -7/5 (seven-fifths, the / just means fraction (and fraction just means divide 7 by five).
So we now have -s = -7/5, right? Now, we don't want that s to be negative, so how do we get rid of the negative sign infront of the s? Simple. Multiply by -1 (since a - multiplied by a - is a positive, and since 1 multipled by anything is just the original number (1 x 5 for instance is just 5, we haven't changed it.)
Multiplying -s(-1) = -(7/5)(-1). This tells us that s = 7/5. BAM!
Number 2) I am going to write this is parenthesis notation since you should get used to doing that anyway. It's the same as .4t, only it separates the .4 from the t so you know they are separate terms. It's still the same equation!
(0.4)(t)+3 = 1.6 (if two parenthesis are next to each other it just means multiply those two values, so (2)(3) = ? would just be 2x3, which = 6.)
Now, we have (0.4)(t)+3 = 1.6
Step 1.) Subtract 3 from both sides. Remember, we're solving for t, so in order to do that we MUST get t alone. This gives us (0.4)(t) = 1.6 - 3. This is simplified to (0.4)(t) = -1.4.
Step 2.) (0.4)(t) = -1.4. How do we get the t alone? Remember, t is being multiplied by 0.4, so in order to get it alone we must divide both sides by 0.4. This gives us t = (-1.4)/(0.4) (a parenthesis / parenthesis just means divide the terms, so something like (4)/(2) just means 4/2 which = 2.).
This gives us t = -3.5. Are you starting to understand better?
Why don't you try number 3. Do it step by step. Remember, you goal is to get w alone using multiplication and division. This is a combination of things I did in step 1 and step 2. Write out every step you did below and I will give you comments on them. If you get stuck or need help, my msn is
[email protected] or you can just post here and I'll do my best to help you get unstuck.
Write out every step so I can give you comments on every step!
The answer should come out to be w = -12, so you know what you're shooting for.
