WORKSHEET 23

Manipulating Equations: Multiplication/Division

Main Concepts/Ideas:
The equations that show the relationships of the quantities you will be studying in Physics may
contain products or quotients of variables. To isolate (or solve) for a particular variable or quantity, the
rule is to keep the equation balanced. This means that when a quantity is multiplied or divided on one
side of the equation, it must also be multiplied or divided on the other side. This may also be thought of
as cross-multiplying a quantity or variable to the other side of the equation. The result is that when
transposed, a variable that is in the numerator appears on the denominator of the other side of the
equation. A variable on the denominator appears on the numerator when transposed to the other side
of the equation.

In general, the process can be summarized as

𝑎𝑏 𝑑𝑒
=
𝑐 𝑓

𝑎𝑏 𝑐 𝑑𝑒 𝑐
( )( ) = ( )( ) Since “b” is multiplied to “a”, both sides of the equation are
𝑐 𝑏 𝑓 𝑏
divided by “b”. Similarly, since “a” is divided by “c”, both sides
of the equation are multiplied to “c”.

𝑐𝑑𝑒
𝑎= The “b’s” and “c’s” on the left side of the equation cancel out so
𝑏𝑓
that only “a” remains on the left side of the equation. Note that
the position of “b” and “c” on the right side of the equation are across its position on the left
side of the equation (variables in the numerator are placed on the denominator while variables
in the denominator are placed in the numerator.)

Detailed Example:
𝐴𝑥
• Solve for Ax in the equation 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 =
𝐴
𝐴
o 𝐴(𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃) = ( 𝑥) 𝐴 To isolate or solve for Ax we observe that we need to
𝐴
transpose or transfer A to the other side of the equation. To do that we need to “undo”
the operation that acts between Ax and A. Since the operation is division we need to
multiply an A in the numerator to cancel the A in the numerator. However, to ensure
balance we also multiply an A on the other side of the equation.

𝐴𝑥 = 𝐴𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 This is the final answer. Although it is also correct to

write the equation as 𝐴𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 = 𝐴𝑥 it is customarily written such that the isolated
variable is on the left side of the equation.

o A faster way of isolating Ax can be done by cross-multiplying A to the other side of the
equation. That is, we imagine drawing a line from the denominator (where A is) to
numerator in the opposite wide (where cosθ is). We then imagine that line as the path
taken by A as it transfers from one side of the equation to the other side.

𝐴𝑥
o Solve for A in the equation 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 =
𝐴
𝐴
o 𝐴(𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃) = ( 𝑥 ) 𝐴
𝐴
Like the solution in the previous example we transpose A to the other side of the
equation by multiplying both sides of the equation to A so that we get 𝐴𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 = 𝐴𝑥

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𝐴𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 𝐴𝑥
o =
𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃
However, since we want to A to be the only quantity in the left side of the equation, we
“undo” the multiplication between A and cosθ. To do that, we divide both sides of the
equation to cosθ.

𝐴𝑥
o 𝐴=
𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃
This is our final answer. Although it is also possible to divide both sides of the original
1 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃
equation with Ax so that we get = , customarily, the isolated variable is written in
𝐴 𝐴𝑥
the numerator.

Practice Problem/s:
Solve for the indicated variable in each equation.
Solve for d from the equation v =d/t Solve for V from the equation ρ = m/V

1 𝐺𝑚1 𝑚2
Solve for k from the equation 𝐹 = 𝑘𝑥 2 Solve for m1 from the equation 𝐹 =
2 𝑟2

𝑚(𝑣2 −𝑣1 ) 𝑘𝑞1 𝑞2

Solve for m from the equation 𝐹 = Solve for q1 from the equation 𝐹 =
𝑡 𝑟2

Reflection/Summary of Learning:

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