not sure if its beginer or intermediate algebra sorry

[James Smithson]

I think i worked out the right answer but I would like to know if my working out is correct please

 

[Otis]

Hi James. Your final result a = -0.35 is correct, if you were instructed to report an approximated answer rounded to the nearest hundredth. Otherwise, I would report the exact answer a = -8/23.

Your work looks good, but here's a couple pointers.

In algebra (and beyond), we rarely write × to mean multiplication. (It looks too similar to the variable x.) See my work, below.

When you simplify an equation, you may do both sides at once. You'd simplified the left side in one step and then expanded the right side in the next step. Each of those steps could be thought of as simplifications.

Your annotation "Take a" is unfamiliar to me. It appears to mean "combine a-terms".

But, overall, you did good. For comparison, here's my work (without annotation).

3a - 4 = a/8 - 5

8(3a) - 8(4) = 8(a/8) - 8(5)

24a - 32 = a - 40

23a - 32 = -40

23a = -8

a = -8/23

?

 

[James Smithson]

Hi James. Your final result a = -0.35 is correct, if you were instructed to report an approximated answer rounded to the nearest hundredth. Otherwise, I would report the exact answer a = -8/23.

Your work looks good, but here's a couple pointers.

In algebra (and beyond), we rarely write × to mean multiplication. (It looks too similar to the variable x.) See my work, below.

When you simplify an equation, you may do both sides at once. You'd simplified the left side in one step and then expanded the right side in the next step. Each of those steps could be thought of as simplifications.

Your annotation "Take a" is unfamiliar to me. It appears to mean "combine a-terms".

But, overall, you did good. For comparison, here's my work (without annotation).

3a - 4 = a/8 - 5

8(3a) - 8(4) = 8(a/8) - 8(5)

24a - 32 = a - 40

23a - 32 = -40

23a = -8

a = -8/23

?

Thank you for taking the time to help me out

 

[HallsofIvy]

I think i worked out the right answer but I would like to know if my working out is correct please

I like your museums!