Subtract 1 from both sides

Oct 13, 2025 by talynt.org 32 views

Introduction

In mathematics, solving equations is a fundamental concept that involves finding the value of a variable that makes an equation true. Adler and Erika, two students, were given the same problem to solve: $\frac{13}{8}=k+\frac{1}{2}$ . In this article, we will explore their work and discuss the steps they took to solve the equation.

Adler's Work

Adler started by writing the equation $\frac{13}{8}=k+\frac{1}{2}$ and then subtracting $\frac{1}{2}$ from both sides of the equation. This resulted in the equation $\frac{13}{8}-\frac{1}{2}=k+\frac{1}{2}-\frac{1}{2}$ . He then simplified the left-hand side of the equation by finding a common denominator, which is 8. This gave him $\frac{13}{8}-\frac{4}{8}=\frac{9}{8}=k$ .

Step-by-Step Solution

Write the equation: $\frac{13}{8}=k+\frac{1}{2}$
Subtract $\frac{1}{2}$ from both sides: $\frac{13}{8}-\frac{1}{2}=k+\frac{1}{2}-\frac{1}{2}$
Simplify the left-hand side: $\frac{13}{8}-\frac{4}{8}=\frac{9}{8}=k$

Erika's Work

Erika also started by writing the equation $\frac{13}{8}=k+\frac{1}{2}$ . However, she took a different approach by first multiplying both sides of the equation by 2 to eliminate the fraction on the right-hand side. This resulted in the equation $\frac{26}{8}=2k+1$ . She then subtracted 1 from both sides of the equation, which gave her $\frac{26}{8}-1=2k+1-1$ . She then simplified the left-hand side of the equation by finding a common denominator, which is 8. This gave her $\frac{26}{8}-\frac{8}{8}=\frac{18}{8}=2k$ .

Step-by-Step Solution

Write the equation: $\frac{13}{8}=k+\frac{1}{2}$
Multiply both sides by 2: $\frac{26}{8}=2k+1$
Subtract 1 from both sides: $\frac{26}{8}-1=2k+1-1$
Simplify the left-hand side: $\frac{26}{8}-\frac{8}{8}=\frac{18}{8}=2k$

Discussion

Both Adler and Erika were able to solve the equation $\frac{13}{8}=k+\frac{1}{2}$ , but they took different approaches. Adler subtracted $\frac{1}{2}$ from both sides of the equation, while Erika multiplied both sides of the equation by 2. Both methods resulted in the same solution, which is $k=\frac{9}{8}$ .

Comparison of Methods

Method	Steps	Solution
Adler's Method	Subtract $\frac{1}{2}$ from both sides	$k=\frac{9}{8}$
Erika's Method	Multiply both sides by 2, subtract 1 from both sides	$k=\frac{9}{8}$

Conclusion

Solving equations is a fundamental concept in mathematics that involves finding the value of a variable that makes an equation true. Adler and Erika, two students, were given the same problem to solve: $\frac{13}{8}=k+\frac{1}{2}$ . They took different approaches to solve the equation, but both resulted in the same solution, which is $k=\frac{9}{8}$ . This article has discussed their work and provided a step-by-step solution to the equation.

Future Work

In the future, students can use the methods presented in this article to solve similar equations. They can also explore other methods for solving equations, such as using algebraic manipulations or graphing. By practicing and applying these methods, students can develop a deeper understanding of solving equations and become proficient in mathematics.

References

[1] "Algebra" by Michael Artin
[2] "Mathematics for Computer Science" by Eric Lehman, F Thomson Leighton, and Albert R Meyer

Glossary

Equation: A statement that two mathematical expressions are equal.
Variable: A symbol that represents a value that can change.
Solution: The value of the variable that makes the equation true.

Additional Resources

[1] Khan Academy: Solving Equations
[2] MIT OpenCourseWare: Algebra
[3] Wolfram Alpha: Solving Equations

Introduction

Solving equations is a fundamental concept in mathematics that involves finding the value of a variable that makes an equation true. In our previous article, we discussed Adler's and Erika's work on solving the equation $\frac{13}{8}=k+\frac{1}{2}$ . In this article, we will answer some frequently asked questions about solving equations.

Q: What is an equation?

A: An equation is a statement that two mathematical expressions are equal. It is a way of expressing a relationship between two or more variables.

Q: What is a variable?

A: A variable is a symbol that represents a value that can change. In an equation, the variable is the value that we are trying to find.

Q: How do I solve an equation?

A: To solve an equation, you need to isolate the variable on one side of the equation. This can be done by adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing both sides of the equation by the same value.

Q: What is the difference between a linear equation and a quadratic equation?

A: A linear equation is an equation in which the highest power of the variable is 1. For example, $2x+3=5$ is a linear equation. A quadratic equation is an equation in which the highest power of the variable is 2. For example, $x^2+4x+4=0$ is a quadratic equation.

Q: How do I solve a linear equation?

A: To solve a linear equation, you can use the following steps:

Add, subtract, multiply, or divide both sides of the equation by the same value to isolate the variable.
Simplify the equation by combining like terms.
Solve for the variable.

Q: How do I solve a quadratic equation?

A: To solve a quadratic equation, you can use the following steps:

Factor the equation, if possible.
Use the quadratic formula: $x=\frac{-b\pm\sqrt{b^2-4ac}}{2a}$ .
Simplify the equation and solve for the variable.

Q: What is the quadratic formula?

A: The quadratic formula is a formula that is used to solve quadratic equations. It is given by: $x=\frac{-b\pm\sqrt{b^2-4ac}}{2a}$ .

Q: How do I use the quadratic formula?

A: To use the quadratic formula, you need to plug in the values of $a$ , $b$ , and $c$ into the formula. Then, simplify the equation and solve for the variable.

Q: What is the difference between a system of equations and a single equation?

A: A system of equations is a set of two or more equations that are related to each other. A single equation is a single equation that is not part of a system of equations.

Q: How do I solve a system of equations?

A: To solve a system of equations, you can use the following steps:

Use substitution or elimination to solve one equation for one variable.
Substitute the expression for the variable into the other equation.
Solve for the variable.

Q: What is the difference between a linear system and a nonlinear system?

A: A linear system is a system of linear equations. A nonlinear system is a system of nonlinear equations.

Q: How do I solve a linear system?

A: To solve a linear system, you can use the following steps:

Use substitution or elimination to solve one equation for one variable.
Substitute the expression for the variable into the other equation.
Solve for the variable.

Q: How do I solve a nonlinear system?

A: To solve a nonlinear system, you can use the following steps:

Use numerical methods, such as the Newton-Raphson method, to approximate the solution.
Use graphical methods, such as plotting the equations on a graph, to visualize the solution.
Use algebraic methods, such as solving the system of equations analytically, to find the exact solution.

Conclusion

Solving equations is a fundamental concept in mathematics that involves finding the value of a variable that makes an equation true. In this article, we have answered some frequently asked questions about solving equations, including how to solve linear and quadratic equations, how to use the quadratic formula, and how to solve systems of equations. We hope that this article has been helpful in answering your questions and providing you with a better understanding of solving equations.