Bit of help with me helping my son do algebra please!!

UOcUK Poopscoop

UOcUK Poopscoop

UOcUK Poopscoop

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Joined
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Need a quick catchup in algebra 101! lol

If I give a couple of examples could someone show me how they arrived at their answers please?

1) 3s - 6=5 (In my old mind 3s has to equal 11.... but that can't work??)

2) 4f - 5=12 (again.... 4f has to equal 17 surely.... but it can't??)

Many thanks for help!!
 
UOcUK Poopscoop said:
Need a quick catchup in algebra 101! lol

If I give a couple of examples could someone show me how they arrived at their answers please?

1) 3s - 6=5 (In my old mind 3s has to equal 11.... but that can't work??)

2) 4f - 5=12 (again.... 4f has to equal 17 surely.... but it can't??)

Many thanks for help!!
Click to expand...


3s=11

therefore, s = 11/3

4f=17
therefore f = 17/4 ie: 4.25

1st one, divide both sides by 3.
2nd one, divide both sides by 4
 
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I used to lay it out like this:

3s - 5 = 11

3s = 11 + 5

3s = 16

s = 16/3

(I think... :p)

Ok just realised I've changed the numbers, but the layout remains the same!
 
UOcUK Poopscoop said:
Ok, kinda getting it. How would my lad actually show the workings out on paper to illustrate those answers? (T keep a year 7 Maths teacher happy?)

Thanks for your help guys!
Click to expand...

the way i remember being taught it at school was splitting it all down the middle of the = sign and then adding or subtracting from both sides .

so a +6 above the -6 and the the same on the other side of the =

obviously id just do it in my head now but thats the way we did it when young and learning

eg.

96975002.png
 
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Thanks guys, knew you would come to the rescue. At least I now know how to tell him to do it and check his answers are correct.

What threw me is the variables not being round numbers but being fractions etc.
 
Algebra is the devil.

I still cannot do it at all, and i have tried believe me.

I always seemed to get into an argument with my teachers/lecturers about it, i would say that its not really relevant and could they give me at least one "real world" use for it, they would always falter and fail to come up with a use that satisfied me.



*I am not saying Algebra has no use, obviously it does or it wouldnt be taught*
 
-7g - 4=12

-7g - 4 + 4 = 12 + 4

-7 x g = 16

16 / -7 = -2.29 [-2.285]

To be fair zootfloot, I've pretty much forgotten all of the algebra and most of the GCSE maths I ever did. Why? Because it's like speaking a second language: use it or lose it. I've never had to use it, and thus it's sunk into the abyss of my memory and I'm unable to recall. :p

If I ever need to use the principles for anything, I'm able to source a lesson and brush up. That's not to say I'm not annoyed at forgetting; I'd rather not have to re-learn it again, but such is life.
 
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