Question

Solve for x:

y = a + cx

Answer 1

x =
`(y-a)/(c)`

Explanation:

subtract 'a' first

divide by 'c' second

Answer 2

`\large{x=(y-a)/(c)}`

Simplified

`\large{x=(y)/(c)-(a)/(c)}`

You can either choose simplified or the first one. Both solutions work.

Explanation:

First, we have to isolate x-term.

`\large{y=a+cx}`

This form of equation is called "Literal Equation" where y-term is currently isolated. Now we are going to isolate x-term by subtracting both sides by a-term.

`\large{y-a=a+cx-a}\\\large{y-a=cx}`

We can say that we simply move the term to the another side and change the sign to the opposite (From plus to minus)

The next thing we are going to do is to divide the whole equation by c-term. Remember, we do not just divide y-term or a-term. We divide the whole expression.

`\large{(y-a)/(c)=(cx)/(c)}\\\large{(y-a)/(c)=x}`

Finally, the x-term is isolated and thus been solved.

The form of
`\large{(y-a)/(c)}` can be simplified to
`\large{(y)/(c)-(a)/(c)}`