Mathletes, please help. This should be an easy one...

[Tuvok Obama]

The reason I say it should be easy is because it's really basic algebra. But I'm brand new to the subject, and I've spent over an hour working with this one.

2(-3a + 2) + a = 2

I'm supposed to figure out what a is, then prove it.

If I use a positive number for a, the answer is always negative, and if I use a negative number for a, I can't get a total less than 4.

One of the things I've learned in this class so far is that an equation can be either true, false, or neither. Is it possible this is a false equation?

[NJmaverick]

1. Try a fraction, instead of a whole number

[Lyric]

2. a = 0?

If you subtract the 2 from both sides, you end up with 2(-3a) = 0

For the answer to be zero, you'd have to be multiplying by zero, right?

[begin_within]

3. just work it out:

2(-3a+2)+a=2
-6a+4+a=2
-6a+a=-2
-5a=-2
5a=2
a=0.4

[NJmaverick]

5. I believe the last part is 2/5 not 2.5

[begin_within]

6. oops

Thanks

[LynzM]

4. Ok, let's walk through it.

2*(-3a + 2) + a = 2

2*-3a + 2*2 + a = 2

-6a + 4 + a = 2

-5a + 4 = 2

-5a = -2

a = -2/-5 = 2/5 = 0.4

Hope that helps! Let me know if there are steps there that you don't understand, and I'll break them down more. :)

[Tuvok Obama]

7. THANK YOU LynzM and everyone else

The instructor's lecture notes aren't as clear as the way I see it broken down here, and the textbook can be spotty, too.

.4 checks out, too. The equation ends up being basically 1.6 + .4 = 2, or 2 = 2 (which I probably don't need to tell any of you, but I'm saying I see the equation both ways now).

[LynzM]

8. You're welcome!

I like math, and I like tutoring math to willing students. :) Glad you are able to see it now!