y=4mx-2b and i need to solve for x

Question

how do i start this problem? do i substract y to the other side and then divide ?

Answer 1

You want to get x alone.   Therefore,

y=4mx-2b.  start by adding 2b to both sides

y+2b=4mx.  set put 4mx on the left side

4mx=y+2b.  divide each side by 4m

 

Answer 2

Technically, you are isolating "x" and so you need to move everything that is "not x" to the left side where "y" is at. 

           y = 4mx - 2b      Problem

    y + 2b = 4mx            Add 2b to both sides to get rid of -2b expression on

                                   right side

(y + 2b)    = x                                                                                                  4m

Now multiply both sides by (1/4m) to get rid of 4m on right side

Answer 3

You may recognize this form of equation:  y=mx+b is the standard slope-intercept form, where m = the slope, or tilt, of the line when graphed, and b = the y-intercept - the value of y when that graphed line crosses the y (vertical) axis (when x = 0).

Just like any other equation, we need to isolate the variable we want to solve for.  In other words, we need to "move stuff around" until we get that variable (x in this case) all by itself on one side of the equation (either side is fine).

So let's start by getting the -2b term away from 4mx.  We can do that by adding 2b to both sides of the equation (must do the same things to BOTH sides of an equation, to keep it balanced):

 y+2b = 4mx-2b+2b;   y+2b = 4mx

Now to get the x by itself, let's divide 4mx by 4m, so the 4m's "cancel out" (4m/4m = 1).  But we also have to divide the other side by the same 4m:  (y+2b)/4m = 4mx/4m;   (y+2b)/4m = x

Now we have our answer!