Question

How do you solve the equation `x - 2y =-7`?

Answer 1

• There is no way in which we solve for unique values of `x and y` using just this one equation

• But we can represent `x` in terms of `y` or vice versa

Transposing `-2y` to the right hand side would give us:

`x = 2y - 7` (`x` in terms of `y`)

Now transposing 7 to the Left hand side would give us:

`x + 7 = 2y`

Dividing both sides by 2 will give us:

`(x+7)/2 = (cancel(2)y)/cancel(2)`

`y = (x+7)/2` (`y` in terms of `x`)