V=Bh for h

Question

I dont understand how to solve literal equations in a algebra 2 class so im wondering if you can help.

Answer 1

When solving "for" anything (in this case, h), we want to get it by itself on one side of the equal sign. In this case:

V = B*h

we divide by B on both sides to get h by itself:

V/B = h

which is the same as saying:

h = V/B

I hope this helps!

Answer 2

The steps for solving any literal equation for a variable are the same as the steps that you would take to solve a "regular" equation for x (ie: 3x+4=12).  Regardless of whether you have a single-variable "regular" equation or a literal equation with many different letters and possible variables to solve for, your goal is to get the one letter/variable that you are solving for by itself on one side of the equal sign, with everything else on the other side.  (Think about what your answer looks like when you're solving 3x+4=12 for x... you eventually end up with x = 8/3).

The biggest difference between literal equations and "regular" equations is that literal equations have more letters.  What this means is that the final answer of a literal equation will be written as letters added/subtracted/multiplied/divided with each other, rather than a simple number (as you would see in the solution to a "regular" equation).

Let's treat 3x+4=12 as if it is a literal equation, so that we can see how both types of equations really work the same way:

3x+4 = 12

3x = 12-4

x = (12-4)/3    <-- The next step would be to simplify the answer as much as possible.  In this case, (12-4)/3 = 8/3, which is why we just write x = 8/3.  In a literal equation, often the answer cannot be simplified anymore (This answer could look like x = (A-C)/D.  Thinking about combining like terms and everything, there is nothing that we can combine and/or simplify in this answer.)

Here are some tips to help with solving literal equations:

1. Start by circling the variable that you are solving for.

2. Treat everything that is not circled as if it's just a number. Solve the equation by treating the non-circled letters as you would treat numbers in a "regular" equation.

3. Don't worry if your answer looks funny or doesn't make a whole lot of sense to you, sometimes that is the case - especially if you don't know the context of the literal equation.  Sometimes it can be helpful to put a context around the equation/solution to help make sense of it:  C = 3B + NO  -> My cookie jar can hold 3 brownies and some unknown number of oranges (depending on their size).

Good luck with this unit!

- Patty