Solving Linear Equations?

Question

1) Solve the equation 23 = h - 52 for h.

2) A mother weighs her baby by holding the baby and stepping on a scale. Their combined weight is 143 pounds and the mother's weight is 128 pounds. How much does the baby weigh? Let w be the baby's weight. Which equation can be used to find the baby's weight?

3) Solve the equation -9 = -a + 15 for a

Answer 1

Question 1
h - 52 = 23
h = 75

Question 2
w + 128 = 143
w = 15
Baby weighs 15 lbs

Question 3
- 9 = - a + 15
- 24 = - a
a = 24

Answer 2

23+52=h
h = 75

143 - 128 = w
w = 15

-9 = -a + 15
a = 24

Answer 3

1. 23=h - 52
+52 +52
75=h

2. 128=143-w
-143 -143
-15= -w
/-1 /-1
w=15

3. -9=-a+15
-15 -15
-24 = -a
/-1 /-1
a=24

Answer 4

1) 23 = h - 52
taking 52 to the other side , sign changes
23 + 52 = h
or h = 75

2) let mother be x
let baby be w
x+w = 143
x = 128
128 + w = 143
w = 143 - 128 = 15 pounds

3) -9 = -a + 15
taking 15 to the other side sign changes
- 9 - 15 = -a
-24 = -a
a = 24 ( both negatives cancel each other)
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