Algebra

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Longsidebovril
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Algebra

Post by Longsidebovril » Mon Feb 25, 2019 5:55 pm

Hi all.

I’m looking for some basic algebra help with my kids homework. Maths is not my strong point.

How do you simplify 5x
— - x
2

5x over 2 take away x

Thanks Clarets

Longsidebovril
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Re: Algebra

Post by Longsidebovril » Mon Feb 25, 2019 5:56 pm

Can’t get it to look right on the message board but you get the idea...

bfcmik
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Re: Algebra

Post by bfcmik » Mon Feb 25, 2019 5:58 pm

5x/2 = 2.5x
2.5x - x = 1.5x

Down_Rover
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Re: Algebra

Post by Down_Rover » Mon Feb 25, 2019 5:59 pm

The answer to the first one is 6x

Longsidebovril
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Re: Algebra

Post by Longsidebovril » Mon Feb 25, 2019 6:00 pm

Can you have half numbers as the multiplier ?

Longsidebovril
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Re: Algebra

Post by Longsidebovril » Mon Feb 25, 2019 6:00 pm

Down_Rover wrote:The answer to the first one is 6x
Can you explain ?

pushpinpussy
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Re: Algebra

Post by pushpinpussy » Mon Feb 25, 2019 6:02 pm

Well, thats another day thats passed and I "Still" haven't used Algebra.

bfcmik
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Re: Algebra

Post by bfcmik » Mon Feb 25, 2019 6:08 pm

Down_Rover wrote:The answer to the first one is 6x
How on earth did you get that answer?

5x/2-x = 1.5x

LeadBelly
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Re: Algebra

Post by LeadBelly » Mon Feb 25, 2019 6:11 pm

Is that 5x/2 -x?

as per previous post that's the same as 2.5x- 1x the same as 1.5x or 3x/2

There may be a desired methodology though- say putting the whole thing over 2; so you have 5x/2 -2x/2 = (5x-2x)/2 = 3x/2.

Longsidebovril
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Re: Algebra

Post by Longsidebovril » Mon Feb 25, 2019 6:12 pm

Awesome. Thanks. I think I understand now.

dsr
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Re: Algebra

Post by dsr » Mon Feb 25, 2019 6:13 pm

pushpinpussy wrote:Well, thats another day thats passed and I "Still" haven't used Algebra.
You should force yourself. ;)

LeadBelly
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Re: Algebra

Post by LeadBelly » Mon Feb 25, 2019 6:20 pm

Algebra is really useful when hanging pictures across a wall & you want equal spacing; plenty of other DIY applications too.

Fenwick
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Re: Algebra

Post by Fenwick » Mon Feb 25, 2019 6:42 pm

LeadBelly wrote:Algebra is really useful when hanging pictures across a wall & you want equal spacing; plenty of other DIY applications too.
Rack of eye every time.
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fatboy47
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Re: Algebra

Post by fatboy47 » Mon Feb 25, 2019 6:45 pm

Fenwick wrote:Rack of eye every time.


And a twist o t'gob.

Obviously

Aclaret
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Re: Algebra

Post by Aclaret » Mon Feb 25, 2019 6:47 pm

I was useless at Maths at school, all I learnt was 9 x 9 = 99.
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Down_Rover
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Re: Algebra

Post by Down_Rover » Mon Feb 25, 2019 6:52 pm

Longsidebovril wrote:Can you explain ?
On my screen it says 5x - - x

So the answer is 6x

Must be a formatting thing if you see it differently

Tricky Trevor
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Re: Algebra

Post by Tricky Trevor » Mon Feb 25, 2019 6:53 pm

Substituting numbers for x it appears the whole is 1.5x

5x2/2-2= 10/2-2= 5-2=3. 3 is 2x1.5
5x3/2-3= 15/2-2= 7.5-3=4.5. 4.5 is 3x1.5
5x4/2-4= 20/2-4= 10-4=6. 6 is 4x1.5

Dazzler
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Re: Algebra

Post by Dazzler » Mon Feb 25, 2019 6:58 pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqZo07Ot-uA" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Longsidebovril
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Re: Algebra

Post by Longsidebovril » Mon Feb 25, 2019 7:08 pm

One more.

X squared minus x squared over 2.

LeadBelly
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Re: Algebra

Post by LeadBelly » Mon Feb 25, 2019 9:02 pm

that's basically x sq minus half x squared = half x squared (xsq/2) (something less half of itself always leaves half of itself- same for x squared)

Imploding Turtle
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Re: Algebra

Post by Imploding Turtle » Mon Feb 25, 2019 9:05 pm

5x/2-x = 3x/2

Right?

Edit to add: my reasoning is that after you've halved something, anything you subtract is equal to 2 times whatever you're subtracting before you halved it. So i think that's the simplification.
Last edited by Imploding Turtle on Mon Feb 25, 2019 9:52 pm, edited 1 time in total.

!aiboforceN
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Re: Algebra

Post by !aiboforceN » Mon Feb 25, 2019 9:06 pm

You might find this useful:

https://www.symbolab.com/solver/equatio ... D%7B2%7D-x" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

tim_noone
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Re: Algebra

Post by tim_noone » Mon Feb 25, 2019 9:25 pm

It's taken me a long time and I was useless at maths. But can now double my money as soon as I draw it from a bank machine...

fanzone
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Re: Algebra

Post by fanzone » Mon Feb 25, 2019 9:50 pm

Waste of time

Longsidebovril
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Re: Algebra

Post by Longsidebovril » Mon Feb 25, 2019 10:31 pm

Thanks for the help. It’s slowly coming back to me :D

Hipper
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Re: Algebra

Post by Hipper » Tue Feb 26, 2019 8:45 am

Remember Pythagoras.

I used this as a groundsman to make ninety degree corners, such as you'd get on a football pitch, but for setting out most sports including running tracks. We called it '3, 4, 5'. Any triangle with the ratios 3, 4, 5 (say 30 metres x 40 m x 50m) had a right angled triangle opposite the 5 side. We would put a length of string along one side and then place a pin (I used screw drivers) where the corner would be, then measure 40m from the corner pin along the string and put a second pin in there. Then I attached two tape measures, one to the corner pin, the other to the other pin. From the corner pin I'd run out 30m, and from the other pin 50m. Where they met I would put in a third pin. Then run a string from the corner pin through the third pin and you have a right angle. All because of Pythagoras's Theorem.

(For a right angled triangle, the square on the hypotenuse (which means the longest side) is equal to the sum (sum means 'add up') of the squares on the other two sides. 3x3=9, 4x4=16; 9+16=25; 5x5=25)

atlantalad
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Re: Algebra

Post by atlantalad » Tue Feb 26, 2019 9:05 am

Longsidebovril wrote:Thanks for the help. It’s slowly coming back to me :D
Can probably model your rate of recall by:

R =(t + 2)^n
Where R is your memory recall, t is time, 2 a factor based on number of times you pose an algebra question on clarets forum and n is exponent governed by how quickly you learn.
;)

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