How do you solve equations with the variable on both sides?

Question

Please help I have been out of school with a medical problem and my teacher has given me a paper on solving equations with the variable on both sides. I hvae no idea how to do it. Like for example a problem is: 0.4r-1.2=0.3r + 0.6. Which variable do I do first. Do I add 1.2 to both sides? Or do I subtract 0.6 from both sides? I dont understand this. Please help.

Answer 1

0.4r-1.2=0.3r + 0.6 subtract .3r from each side
.1r-1.2=.6 add 1.2 to each side
.1r=1.8 multiply both sides by 10
r=18

Answer 2

You need to get the variable on the same side and the numbers on the other. Then simplify. With your example:
0.4r - 1.2 = 0.3r + 0.6
-0.3r ```````` -0.3r (the ``` is just to keep the # on the correct side)
0.1r -1.2 = 0.6
+1.2 `````` +1.2
0.1r = 1.8
/0.1 `` /0.1 (divide)
r = 18

Hope that helps.

Answer 3

Start 0.4r - 1.2 = 0.3r + 0.6
subtract 0.3r from both sides to get variables on one side
0.4r - 0.3r - 1.2 = 0.6
add 1.2 to both sides to get constants to one side
0.4r - 0.3r = 0.6 + 1.2
combine like terms 0.4r - 0.3r = 0.1r
.............................. 0.6 + 1.2 = 1.8 .............so
0.1r = 1.8
then divide both sides by 0.1 to isolate the variable
r = 1.8 / 0.1
r = 18

you have to get all of the "r"s to one side by adding or subtracting as necessary. Then put all the other numbers on the opposite side by doing the same thing. Then divide.

Answer 4

If you like to start simple do what you have in mind, one step at a time.

For example, add -0.3r to both sides
you are left with
r - 1.2 = 0.6
add 1.2 to both sides
you are left with
r = 1.8
solved.

later, to make it faster you just "pass a term to the other side" by multiplying by -1.
so you would be able to re-arrange your equation as follows

04r - 0.3r = 0.6 + 1.2
and now it is
r = 1.8.

Answer 5

You add/subtract to get the variable on one side only and the constants on one side only, like this:

0.4r-1.2=0.3r + 0.6

Subtract 0.3r from both sides, to get:

0.1r-1.2 = 0.6

Now add 1.2 to both sides to get:

0.1r = 1.8

Finally, multiply both sides by 10 to get:

r = 18

.

Answer 6

You can go either rout. But you have to isolate the variable by itself on one side. So you could go 0.4r-1.2+1.2=0.3r+.06+1.2, then do the same for your r terms. 0.4r-1.2+1.2-0.3r=0.3r-0.3r+.06+1.2, then you would have 0.4r-0.3r=.06+1.2. so .1r=1.8. R =18.

Answer 7

move the variable to one side and the constant to the other
so subtract 0.3r from bothe sides and and 1.2 to both sides

Answer 8

0.4r - 1.2 = 0.3r + 0.6

0.4r - 0.3r -1.2 = 0.3r - 0.3r + 0.6

0.1r - 1.2 + 1.2 = 0.6 + 1.2

0.1r = 1.8

0.1r / 0.1 = 1.8 / 0.1

r = 18

Answer 9

.4r - 1.2 = .3r + .6

first to make it easier, get rid of the decimals by multipling everything by 10

4r - 12 = 3r + 6

4r - 3r = 12 + 6
r = 18

ANS : r = 18