-p (51+z) = dz+84 if I’m solving for Z
First I distribute
Then I move the x terms and the non z terms to opposite sides of the equation.
Thirdly I factor out a z from the z terms
Then I divide both sides of the equation by the factored set of numbers,
and I have my answer.
Z= 84 + 51p/ -p – d
I know how to solve it and get the correct answer 100% of the time, but I don’t know why Im doing any of these steps, or what the answer even means. In comparison to a normal linear equation where there’s just a variable or a number next to a variable(3, 3x) and you solve for a x and you get a number that you can plug into the equation and check to see if you got the right answer.
In: Mathematics
The point of rearranging an equation to get a single unknown in terms of the other terms to to be able to calculate what the value of Z is for any value of p or d.
You could also rearrange the equation to solve for p in terms of z and d or d in terms of z and p.
Btw. Z=(84+51p)/(-p-d). Parentheses are important.
I don’t know the origin of the original equation. But for fun,
Let’s say the original equation describes how far a marshmallow will travel (Z) when shot out of a tube of diameter(d) under air pressure (p).
When solved for Z you can determine how far the marshmallow will go with a 1/2 inch tube and 10 psi of pressure. Or you can rearrange for p, and figure out what pressure you need to hit your big brother 10 feet away.
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