Solve this equation for "x" x/a - 5 = b "Find any restrictions" (Not sure what that means)

Question

Yeah, I'm not quite sure what "Find any restrictions" means, but could someone give me a few steps on how to solve that?

I'll give you as many points as possible for a best answer.

Answer 1

If you mean it as you've written it, then

x/a - 5 = b

x/a = b + 5

x = a(b + 5)

The restriction here would be a cannot equal 0.

If you meant x/(a - 5) = b

then x = b(a - 5)

The restriction here would be a cannot equal 5.

The restriction your teacher is talking about is preventing mathematically impossible things from happening. At your level, about the only one you need to worry about is division by zero. That can't be done, so you have to restrict the variables in the problem to prevent the denominator ever equalling zero.

If you don't understand why you can't divide by zero (and a lot of people don't, so there's no shame there), either ask your teacher or post the question here. Or, I suppose, you could send me a message. Your option.

Answer 2

The equation is x/a-5=b. If you move the 5 to the other side, the equation becomes x/a=b+5. You then multiply a by (b+5) and get a(b+5) or ab+5a. Thus x=ab+5a.

Restrictions in this case, I think, means the value for a and b which are not given. As a result, x could be any integer (number actually) because a and b could have infinite set of values.

Answer 3

x/a - 5 = b
x/a = b + 5
x = a (b + 5)
x = ab + 5a

restrictions: a cannot be zero

Answer 4

x=ab+5a

I never really understood restrictions either. Just say x or a or b cannot equal 0.

Answer 5

I don't think it can be done... To solve it for x you would need another equation so you could do silmutainous equations. I'm probably wrong though.

Answer 6

x=b(a-5) a is not equal to 5.

Answer 7

Duh? i'm not to good at math. it's true. what topic is this.?