Linear equations word problems

[alp10]

i don't understand the higlighted part how does Balloons - 200 = -4 (Animals-15) become Animals = -0.25 x Balloons + 65

 

[Dr.Peterson]

They have solved the equation [MATH]b - 200 = -4(a - 15)[/MATH] for the variable a, as they state.

You can distribute the -4 on the right-hand side; then subtract the resulting 60 from both sides, and so on, until you have a by itself.

 

[Deleted member 4993]

View attachment 14280

i don't understand the higlighted part how does Balloons - 200 = -4 (Animals-15) become Animals = -0.25 x Balloons + 65

Work it out with "paper & pencil" - you'll see it will jump out.

Substitute:

Animals = A

Balloon = B

Then the given equation changes to:

B - 200 = 4*(A-15) ...................We need to isolate A. Divide both sides by (-4)

-B/4 + 50 = A-15

-B/4 + 65 = A

There......