Question

Solve for a. 5 + 14a = 9a - 5

Answer 1

5 + 14a = 9a - 5

     -9a   -9a    

5 + 5a =       -5

-5                 -5

       5a =    -10

      $\frac{5a}{5} = \frac{-10}{5}$

         a = -2

Answer: a = -2

Answer 2

Since you are solving for a, you want to have a on one side of the equation and the other terms on another side of the equation. It would be easiest to have all the terms with a on the left side of the equation, so that is what we will do.

Subtract 9a from both sides to get a on the left side of the equation.

5 + 5a = -5

Subtract 5 from both sides of the equation to isolate the term with a.

5a = -10

Divide both sides of the equation by 5 to solve for a.

a = -2