Question

How do you solve the equation 4a+b=12

Answer 1

Rearrange the equation by subtracting what is to the right of the equal sign from both sides of the equation :

4*a+b-(12)=0

Such an equation is usually written y=mx+b ("y=mx+c" in the UK).

"y=mx+b" is the formula of a straight line drawn on Cartesian coordinate system in which "y" is the vertical axis and "x" the horizontal axis.

In this formula :

y tells us how far up the line goes

x tells us how far along

m is the Slope or Gradient i.e. how steep the line is

b is the Y-intercept i.e. where the line crosses the Y axis

The X and Y intercepts and the Slope are called the line properties. We shall now graph the line 4a+b-12 = 0 and calculate its properties

Notice that when a = 0 the value of b is 12/1 so this line "cuts" the b axis at b=12.00000

b-intercept = 12/1 = 12.00000

When b = 0 the value of a is 3/1 Our line therefore "cuts" the a axis at a= 3.00000

a-intercept = 12/4 = 3

Slope is defined as the change in b divided by the change in a. We note that for a=0, the value of b is 12.000 and for a=2.000, the value of b is 4.000. So, for a change of 2.000 in a (The change in a is sometimes referred to as "RUN") we get a change of 4.000 - 12.000 = -8.000 in b. (The change in b is sometimes referred to as "RISE" and the Slope is m = RISE / RUN)

Slope = -8.000/2.000 = -4.000

Geometric figure: Straight Line

1. Slope = -8.000/2.000 = -4.000
2. a-intercept = 12/4 = 3
3. b-intercept = 12/1 = 12.00000

Answer 2

Answer:

Step-by-step explanation:

Without having a numerical value for a (or b), you can't "solve this equation."

You can, however, solve it for either a or b, but not both.

For a:  Subtract b from both sides.  This results in 4a = 12 - b.  Dividing both sides by 4 isolates a:  

        12 - b

a = --------------

            4

For b:  Subtract 4a from both sides.  Then:   b = 12 - 4a