Final answer:
To solve a mathematical equation or inequality, we first identify the known quantities and the unknown, choose the appropriate equation, ensure all values are in the correct units, then calculate the answer using a calculator or computer, and finally check if the solution is reasonable.
Step-by-step explanation:
To answer a mathematical equation or inequality, we start by identifying the known quantities and what we need to find, which is the unknown. For example, if we are dealing with a physics problem, we could be given initial velocity, acceleration, and time, and we need to find the final velocity. We would then identify the equation that relates these quantities, which, in this case, could be the kinematic equation v = u + at, where v is the final velocity, u is the initial velocity, a is the acceleration, and t is time.
Once the appropriate equation is chosen, we ensure that all the values are in the correct units. This might involve converting units to ensure uniformity, as in making sure distance is measured in meters and time in seconds. We would then fill these values into our equation. For the kinematic equation, if the initial velocity is given in meters per second (m/s), acceleration in meters per second squared (m/s2), and time in seconds (s), no conversion would be necessary.
After substituting the known values into the equation, we use technology like a calculator or computer to calculate the answer. If technology allows for symbolic calculation, we can even input the entire formula and have the values computed directly. The final step is to check that the units of our answer make sense and that the magnitude of the numerical solution is reasonable within the context of the problem.