Scribd
Upload
45 views

Working With Formula

The document provides examples of working with formulas through substitution and solving for variables. It begins by giving examples of substituting values into cost and temperature conversion formulas. It then shows how to solve formulas for particular variables, including solving triangle area and cylinder volume formulas for height and radius. The document emphasizes setting up and solving equations obtained from formulas.

Uploaded by

aftab
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
45 views

Working With Formula

The document provides examples of working with formulas through substitution and solving for variables. It begins by giving examples of substituting values into cost and temperature conversion formulas. It then shows how to solve formulas for particular variables, including solving triangle area and cylinder volume formulas for height and radius. The document emphasizes setting up and solving equations obtained from formulas.

Uploaded by

aftab
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 14

Working with Formulas

Part 1

A formula is an equation usually involving a relationship between literal


quantities. Problems involving formulas often require substitution in a
formula and solution of the resulting equation for a particular variable.

Example 1 A package weighing 15 lb is sent by parcel post. It costs x


cents for the first 10 lb and y cents for each additional lb. Express the
cost, C, in terms of x and y.

Solution: The first 10 lb cost x cents; the remaining 5 lb cost 5y cents.


The total cost C is given by the formula:
C = x + 5y
9
Example 2 The formula F = 5 C + 32 converts Centigrade readings (C)
into Fahrenheit readings (F). Find C when F = 68.

Solution: Substitute 68 into the formula.


9
68 = 5 C + 32
Subtract 32 from both sides.
9
36 = 5 C
Multiply both sides by 5, and then divide by 9.
180 = 9C
C = 20.
5
Example 3 The formula C = 9 (F – 32) converts Fahrenheit readings (F)
into Centigrade readings (C). For which temperature are the readings the
same?
Solution: The correct answer is (–40°).
Let C = F = x. We get:
5
x = 9 (x – 32)

Multiply by 9 and expand.


9x = 5(x – 32),
9x = 5x – 160,
Subtract 5x from both sides.
x = – 160,
x = – 40.
Working with Formulas

Part 2
Example 1
If 6x –18 = 5, what does x – 3 equal?
5
Solution: The correct answer is 6 .

Way 1
6x – 18 = 5
Add 18 to both sides.
6x = 23
Divide both sides by 6.
23 5
x= 6 = 36
5 5
x – 3 = 3 6 −3= 6

Way 2
6x – 18 = 5
6(x – 3) = 5
5
x – 3 ¿6
Example 2 If 7r – 8 = 6 + 7s, what does r – s equal?
Solution: The correct answer is 2.
7r – 7s = 6 + 8
7(r – s) = 14
r–s=2

Example 3 Solve for d: 3c – d = 30 and 5c – 3d = 10


Solution: The correct answer is 30.
Multiply the first equation by 5, the second equation by –3 and add the
obtained equations.

d = 30
Example 4 t (z – 3) = k, what does z equal?
k
Solution: The correct answer is t + 3 .

t (z – 3) = k
Divide by t.
k
z – 3 =t

Add 3 to both sides.


k
z =t + 3

Example 5 If 5p – q = 9 and 10p – 2q = 7, then


(A) p = q
(B) p > q
(C) p < q
(D) p = q ≠ 0
(E) Cannot be determined from the information given
Solution: The correct answer is (E).
Multiply 5p – q = 9 by 2.
10p – 2q = 18
and
10p – 2q = 7
The two equations represent contradictory statements, and p and q
cannot be determined.
Working with Formulas
Part 3

If the formula is entirely literal and the problem calls for solving for one
variable in terms of the others, start by moving all terms containing this
variable to one side of the equation.

1
Example 1 The area, A, of a triangle is given by the formula: A = 2 bh
(b – base, h – altitude). Solve this formula for h.

Solution: To solve for h, multiply both sides by 2.


2A = by
Switch the sides, and then divide both sides by b.
bh = 2A
bh 2A
=¿
b b
2A
h=
b
Example 2 The area of a trapezoid with bases a and b (parallel sides)
h
and height h is given by the formula A = 2 (a + b).

Find a in terms of A, h, and b.


2A
Solution: The correct answer is a = h
−b.

Multiply by 2.
2A = h(a + b)
2A = ha + hb
Subtract hb.
2A – hb = ha
Divide by h.
2 A−bh
a=
h
2A
a= h
−b
at
Example 3 Solve the formula s=
a+ t for t.

Solution: Multiply both sides by a + t and expand.


s (a + t) = at
as + st = at
Subtract st from both sides.
as = at – st
Factor the right side.
as = (a – s)t
Switch the sides, and then divide both sides by a – s.
(a – s)t = as
as
t=
a−s
1 1 1
Example 4 Solve the formula = +
c a b for a.

Solution: Multiply both sides by abc.


abc abc abc
= +
c a b
ab = bc + ac

Subtract ac from both sides.


ab – ac = bc
Factor the left side.
a(b – c) = bc
bc
a=
b−c
Working with Formulas
Part 4

Example 1 The volume, V, of a cylinder with base area B and height h is


given by the formula V = Bh, and B = πr2, where r is the radius of the
base. Find V in terms of r and h.

Solution: The correct answer is V = πr2h.


V = Bh, B = πr2
Substitute πr2 for B in first equation.
V = πr2h
Example 2 In the formula V = πr2h, if r is doubled, what must be done
to h to keep V constant?

Solution: If r is doubled, the effect is to quadruple V, since the r is


squared in the formula.
( 2 r )2=4 r 2
Hence, h must be divided by 4 to keep V the same in value.
Example 3 If the ratio of radii of two cylinders is 3 : 2, and the ratio of
their heights is 1 : 2, what is the ratio of their volumes?
Solution: Given:r 1 :r 2=3 :2, h1 :h2=1 :2.

V1 = πr 21 h1, V 2 = πr 22 h2

V 1 π r 21 h 1 r 21 h1 r 1 2 h1
= = ∙ = () ∙
V 2 π r 22 h 2 r 22 h2 r 2 h2

3 2 1 9 1 9
¿ () ∙ = ∙ =
2 2 4 2 8
Example 4 The volume, V, of a cone with height h and radius of the
1
base r is given by the formula V = 3 πr2h. Solve the formula for r.

Solution: Multiply both sides by 3 and divide by πh.


3V = πr2h
3V π r 2 h
=
πh πh

3V
=r 2
πh

3V
r=
√ πh

You might also like