How do you solve #2a-(11a-4)=2#?

Question

1071 views around the world

You can reuse this answer
Creative Commons License

Answer 1 · 2017-08-20T12:21:08

See a solution process below:

First, remove all of the terms from parenthesis being sure to handle the signs of the individual terms correctly:

#2a - 11a + 4 = 2#

Next, combine like terms on the left side of the equation:

#(2 - 11)a + 4 = 2#

#-9a + 4 = 2#

Then, subtract #color(red)(4)# from each side of the equation to isolate the #a# term while keeping the equation balanced:

#-9a + 4 - color(red)(4) = 2 - color(red)(4)#

#-9a + 0 = -2#

#-9a = -2#

Now, divide each side of the equation by #color(red)(-9)# to solve for #a# while keeping the equation balanced:

#(-9a)/color(red)(-9) = (-2)/color(red)(-9)#

#(color(red)(cancel(color(black)(-9)))a)/cancel(color(red)(-9)) = 2/9#

#a = 2/9#