Keeping Answers Pretty Examples Page 1

Solve the equation 2x + 4y = 16 for y.

Since 2 divides every term of this equation, we can work with a simpler equivalent equation. Let's cut this whole puppy in half. (Not a real puppy.) Divide both sides of the equation by 2 to find that

x + 2y = 8

Then, x = 8 - 2y.