express q in terms of p and t

[andersson40]

Stuck with this question, can someone let me know if i'm going in the right direction? thanks

 

[lev888]

Please do not write equal signs on the left. You have an equality on the first line - you can apply various operations to both sides and write the result below. But you don't _equate_ 2 versions of the same equality.
Regarding your questions, could you include all intermediate steps? I think you are making a mistake at the end.

 

[andersson40]

could you include all intermediate steps? I think you are making a mistake at the end.

I deal with the brackets first, so 2(p-3q) = t becomes 2p - 6q = t
then i move the 2p to right of the equals sign, so it becomes -6q = t -2p
then i divide both sides by -2 so it becomes 3q = tp

 

[lev888]

I deal with the brackets first, so 2(p-3q) = t becomes 2p - 6q = t
then i move the 2p to right of the equals sign, so it becomes -6q = t -2p
then i divide both sides by -2 so it becomes 3q = tp

Dividing the right side by -2 works the same way as multiplying the brackets by 2 in the first step: you need to multiply and divide all terms one by one inside the brackets or on the relevant side of the equation.
2(p-3q) = 2p-6q
(t -2p)/(-2) = ?
And can you explain why you want to divide by -2 in the last step?

 

[HallsofIvy]

It would make more sense to divide by -6 rather than -2.

And you don't seem to distinguish between subtraction and multiplication.
You have t minus 2p but treat it as if it were -2, t, and p all multiplied together.

 

[Steven G]

Dividing -6q by -2 got you 3q, but you want q. As HallsofIvy suggested, why not divide -6q by -6 since -6q/-6 = q which is what you want.