How do you Rearrange an Equation?

Rearranging the Equation

To solve an equation for a variable, it is often necessary to reorganise the equation.

This is rearranging the equation.

This means we take numbers and variable across the equals (=) sign to get the subject we wish to solve isolated on one side of the equation. We rearrange the equation.

There are two important things to remember;

♦  We can do anything to one side of the equation if we do the same to the other. For example we could add 5 to both sides of the equation and things will stay in balance

♦  If a number or variable is moved to the other side of the equation the operation must be reversed by doing the opposite operation on both sides of the equals sign.