what is a

6a + 12 = 55 - 2a

please show workings

2 answers

I am sure I have done this one recently.

You need to make a the subject, i.e. turn the equation into a=. In order to do this you need the a terms on one side and the numbers on the other.

6a + 12 = 55 - 2a

Start by adding 2a to each side.

6a +2a + 12 = 55 - 2a + 2a
8a + 12 = 55

Now subtract 12 from each side

8a + 12 - 12 = 55 - 12
8a = 43

now divide each side by 8

8a/8 = 43/8
a=43/8
Inverse operations are the reverse of an effect of an another operation. An example would be addition and subtraction. Here is a problem of an inverse operation.

7+4=11
4+7=11