how do you isolate?

Question

C1/P1 = C2/P2

If I want to find P2, what would the new formula be? How do you isolate P2?



what is the rule? and does this rule apply to P1 also since they're both in the denominator?

Answer 1

if i understand you correctly you are asking about the basic rules of simple algebra

one way to understand them is to realize that since you have an equal sign, the stuff on the left is the same (equal) to the stuff on the right of the sign

that means if you do the same thing to both sides, they are still the same

if you add 5 to two things that were equal before the adding, they are still equal after the adding

so, and equation like c1/p1=c2/p2 can be solved for any variable

we would solve for p2, by multiplying both sides by p2 to get

p2*c1/p1=c2*p2/p2 (the p2/p2=1, and thus cancels, multiplying something by one doesn't change it)

then you have
p2*c1/p1=c2

now multiply both sides by p1 and get

p2*c1=c2*p1 (note that the p1/p1 cancelled)

finally divide by c1 and get

p2=c2*p1/c1

there, solved for p2
there are faster ways to get there but by doing each step you might get the idea how it works

if you have no algebra background this might be hard to grasp first pass

so, take an algebra class, or get a book

algebra is cool, and as you see, can be used in all kinds of situations

Answer 2

if its the same as algebra (since it is under chemistry) then you would multiply C1/P1 by P2 and get C1*P2/P1 = C2 then multiply by P1 then divide by C1 and get P2 = C2*P1/C1 (dont trust me though, im no mathematician)
there might be a simpler way but thats the way i learned

Answer 3

Multiply by P2 giving...P2C1/P1=C2

Now multiply by P1/C1, this cancels the extra P and C on the left and moves them to the right.

P2 = C2P1/C1