2a-b=ab+3 solve for a

Question

hi

I know I have to separate and get the "a"s all on one side...I'm just stumpted as to how to do it.

any help would be apprecaited. - divided 2-b from both sides and got

a= ab+3 over 2-b  how do I get the other a over to the left side

Answer 1

Rearranging: 2a-ab=b+3

a(2-b)=(b+3)

a=(b+3)/(2-b)

The trick is to get the a's on one side so that a becomes a common factor. Brackets can then be used to separate a from other constants and variables through the distributive property.

Answer 2

2a-b=ab+3 solve for a

All you have to do is remember that it is an equation.

That means, whatever you do to the lhs, yoou must also do to the rhs, to keep it equal,

Your equation is,

2a - b = ab + 3                  (subract ab from both sides)

2a - b - ab = ab + 3 - ab   (cancel out the ab's on the rhs)

2a - b - ab = 3                   ( rearrange the lhs)

2a - ab - b = 3                   (add b to both sides)

2a - ab - b + b = 3 + b      (cancel out the b's on the lhs)

2a - ab = 3 + b                 (take out a as a common factor, on the lhs)

a(2 - b) = 3 + b                 (now divide both sides by (2 - b))

a = (3 + b)/(2 - b)