WORKSHEET 22

Manipulating Equations: Addition/Subtraction

Main Concepts/Ideas:
In physics, most of the relationships of quantities are expressed mathematically as equations. It
is often necessary for you to manipulate the equation so that you can express one variable in terms of
the other variables. The technique is based on the concept of equality. To maintain the equality of
values on the left and right sides of an equation, whatever is added or deducted on one side of the
equation must also be added or deducted on the other side. This may also be thought of as transferring
the term or quantity to the other side of the equation where the rule is to change the sign of the
quantity that is transferred.

In general, the process can be summarized as

𝑎+𝑏−𝑐 =𝑑+𝑒
𝑎+𝑏−𝑐−𝑏+𝑐 =𝑑+𝑒−𝑏+𝑐 “b” is deducted and “c” is added on the
left side of the equation so “b” and “c”
must also be subtracted and added on
the right side of the equation

𝑎 =𝑑+𝑒−𝑏+𝑐 The “b’s” and “c’s” on the left side of

the equation cancel out so that only
“a” is left. Notice also that the signs of
“b” and “c” are opposite to their signs
on the left side of the equation.

Detailed Example:
• Solve for Ax2 from the equation A2 = Ax2 + Ay2
o Ax2 = A2 – Ay2
Solving for Ax2 means that you need to rewrite the equation so that only A x2 can be seen
on one side of the equation. In order to do that, A y2 must be transferred to the other
side of the equation. Since the sign of A y2 on the right side is positive, its sign should
become negative when it is transferred. Although Ax2 =– Ay2 + A2 is also a correct answer,
it is much more common to write the quantity with the positive sign first. It is also
correct to write the equation as A2 – Ay2 = Ax2 but in general, the variable or quantity
that is isolated (or solved for in the equation) is written on the left side of the equation.
Exercises:
Solve for the indicated variable in each equation.
Solve for y from the equation 3x + y – z = 0 Solve for t from the equation wx – zy +t = 2t

Solve for y from the equation 3x + y – z = 3x + z Solve for A from the equation 3A + 2B = 4A – 3C

Solve for 36xy from the equation 36 xy - 72 wx = 2z Solve for q from the equation m + n + o = p – q + r

Reflection/Summary of Learning:

31