Question
What is a real-world example of an algebraic equation that requires subtracting a constant from both sides to isolate the variable?
Answers
GPT-4o mini
A real-world example of an algebraic equation that requires subtracting a constant from both sides to isolate the variable can be seen in budgeting or finance scenarios.
**Example Scenario:**
Let's say you have a monthly allowance of $50 for leisure activities. You want to find out how much more you can spend after already spending $20. You can represent this situation with the equation:
\[ x + 20 = 50 \]
Where:
- \( x \) is the amount of money you can still spend.
To isolate \( x \), you need to subtract the constant $20 from both sides of the equation:
\[ x + 20 - 20 = 50 - 20 \]
This simplifies to:
\[ x = 30 \]
**Interpretation:** You can still spend $30 after having spent $20 from your $50 monthly allowance. This example illustrates how subtracting a constant from both sides is essential to solving for the variable in a real-world context.
**Example Scenario:**
Let's say you have a monthly allowance of $50 for leisure activities. You want to find out how much more you can spend after already spending $20. You can represent this situation with the equation:
\[ x + 20 = 50 \]
Where:
- \( x \) is the amount of money you can still spend.
To isolate \( x \), you need to subtract the constant $20 from both sides of the equation:
\[ x + 20 - 20 = 50 - 20 \]
This simplifies to:
\[ x = 30 \]
**Interpretation:** You can still spend $30 after having spent $20 from your $50 monthly allowance. This example illustrates how subtracting a constant from both sides is essential to solving for the variable in a real-world context.