Subject: equation problem

Name: bob

Who is asking: Other
Level: All

Question: Would you be able to help me solve this math equation..

Solve for b, 2 [b - (q + s)] / q = s

hope you can help

It sometimes helps to think of an equation as a balance, with the equal sign the balance point. In your problem you have the equation

and you want to perform a sequence of valid operations and arrive at an equation of the form

Using the balance analogy, valid operations are ones that maintain the balance. For example you can multiply both sides of the equation by the same amount. Here, multiplying both sides by q yields

Next multiply both sides by 1/2 to get

The balance is also maintained if you add the same amount to both sides, so add (q + s) to both sides to finally arrive at