When you encounter any such an equation with one variable, all you think of is to make that variable at one side and all constants at the other side. So first you start solving using the priorities which says, multiplying or dividing first then adding or subtracting. so you get; 0.5*7y-0.5*4+y=3y-0.5*6-(-0.5)*5y 7/2y-2+2/2y=6/2y-3+5/2y **here as you see, I replaced 3y with 6/2y, just for simplicity to mentally calculate it, also changed y with 2/2y** YOU SHOULD always know that they are the same! 6/2=3 and 2/2=1!! Then, sum all y's on the left hand side together and similarly with the RHS; 9/2y-2=11/2y-3 Take all y's at one side; 9/2y-11/2y=-3+2 -2/2y=-1 -y=-1 Then multiply be -1, you get y=1 Hope this helps.
