How do you solve #-2a = 16#?

1 Answer
smendyka
Mar 13, 2018

See a solution process below:

Explanation:

Divide each side of the equation by #color(red)(-2)# to solve for #a# while keeping the equation balanced:

#(-2a)/color(red)(-2) = 16/color(red)(-2)#

#(color(red)(cancel(color(black)(-2)))a)/cancel(color(red)(-2)) = (2 xx 8)/color(red)(2 xx -1)#

#a = (color(red)(cancel(color(black)(2))) xx 8)/color(red)(color(black)(cancel(color(red)(2))) xx -1)#

#a = 8/color(red)(-1)#

#a = -8#

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