How do you solve $- 2 + \frac{a}{4} = - 9$ $-2+ \frac { a } { 4} = - 9$ ?

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Answer 1 · 2017-01-27T18:22:55

See the entire solution process below:

First, add $2$ $color(red)(2)$ to each side of the equation to isolate the $a$ $a$ term while keeping the equation balanced:

$- 2 + \frac{a}{4} + 2 = - 9 + 2$ $-2 + a/4 + color(red)(2) = -9 + color(red)(2)$

$- 2 + 2 + \frac{a}{4} = - 7$ $-2 + color(red)(2) + a/4 = -7$

$0 + \frac{a}{4} = - 7$ $0 + a/4 = -7$

$\frac{a}{4} = - 7$ $a/4 = -7$

Now, multiply each side of the equation by $4$ $color(red)(4)$ to solve for $a$ $a$ while keeping the equation balanced:

$4 \times \frac{a}{4} = 4 \times - 7$ $color(red)(4) xx a/4 = color(red)(4) xx -7$

$cancel(color(red)(4)) xx a/color(red)(cancel(color(black)(4))) = -28$

$a = -28$

How do you solve -2+ \frac { a } { 4} = - 9−2+a4=−9-2+ \frac { a } { 4} = - 9?