Year 10 Level 3/3*

Topic E – Subject of the formula

By the end of this topic you should know:

• How to change the subject of the formula
• How to substitute values into formulae
• How to form equations

Section 1: The Subject of the Formula

Consider the formula 𝑦 = 𝑚𝑥 + 𝑐. In this equation 𝑦 is the subject of the formula.

So, the subject of the formula is that variable (letter) which is written on its own, usually on
the LHS of the equation.
However, we can arrange the formula to have any of the other variables as subject.
For example, if we want to make 𝑥 the subject of the formula in the above equation:
𝑦 = 𝑚𝑥 + 𝑐
𝑦 − 𝒄 = 𝑚𝑥 + 𝑐 − 𝒄
𝑦 − 𝑐 = 𝑚𝑥
𝑦 − 𝑐 𝑚𝑥
=
𝒎 𝒎
𝑦−𝒄 𝑦−𝒄
=𝑥 ∴𝑥=
𝑚 𝑚
PART A – THE SUBJECT OF THE FORMULA APPEARS ONCE

Example: Look at this equation. s is the subject of the formula & it

appears only once in the equation.
𝑑
𝑠=
𝑡
To put 𝒕 subject of the formula To put 𝒅 subject of the formula
𝑑 𝑑
𝑠= 𝑠=
𝑡 𝑡
Multiply by 𝑡 throughout Multiply by 𝑡 throughout
𝑠𝑡 = 𝑑 𝑠𝑡 = 𝑑

Divide by 𝑠 throughout Arrange the formula to write 𝑑 on LHS

𝑑 𝑑 = 𝑠𝑡
𝑡=
𝑠
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 Year 10 Level 3/3*
Question 1: In the equation 𝑦 = 𝑚𝑥 + 𝑐,
(a) Put 𝒎 subject of the formula
(b) Put 𝒄 subject of the formula

Question 2: The equation for the volume of a cone is 𝑉 = 3 𝜋𝑟 2 ℎ. Arrange the equation to have
1

ℎ subject of the formula.

Question 3: Arrange the equation 𝑝 = 𝑞 − 5 to have 𝒓 subject of the formula.

𝑟

Further Examples: SMP Higher Ch. 8 p. 73 - 75 Sec B nos. B4, B7 – B11, Sec C

PART B – THE SUBJECT OF THE FORMULA APPEARS TWICE OR MORE

Both 𝑡 and 𝑥 appear twice

Example: Consider the equation: 𝑡𝑦𝑥 = 𝑡 − 7𝑥
in the equation.

To put 𝒕 subject of the formula To put 𝒙 subject of the formula

𝑡𝑦𝑥 = 𝑡 − 7𝑥 𝑡𝑦𝑥 = 𝑡 − 7𝑥

Arrange the equation to have all the 𝑡’s on Arrange the equation to have all the 𝑥’s on
one side one side
7𝑥 = 𝑡 − 𝑡𝑦𝑥 𝑡𝑦𝑥 + 7𝑥 = 𝑡

Write 𝑡 as a common factor Write 𝑥 as a common factor

7𝑥 = 𝑡(1 − 𝑦𝑥) 𝑥(𝑡𝑦 + 7) = 𝑡

Divide by the terms in the brackets Divide by the terms in the brackets
throughout throughout
7𝑥 𝑡
∴𝑡= ∴𝑥=
(1 − 𝑦𝑥) (𝑡𝑦 + 7)

Question 4: In the equation 𝑦 + 7𝑥 = 3 − 5𝑥, put 𝑥 subject of the formula.

𝑞𝑎+3
Question 5: Arrange the following equation to write 𝒂 subject of the formula: 𝑝 =
𝑎𝑟+4

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 Year 10 Level 3 – 3*
1 1 1
Question 6: Put 𝒓 subject of the formula in the equation + =
𝑟 𝑠 𝑡

Further Examples: SMP Higher Ch. 30 p. 305 Sec C

PART C – THE SUBJECT OF THE FORMULA HAS A POWER OR IS IN A ROOT

Example: Consider the formula for the volume of a sphere.

4 𝑟 is not to a power 1 !!
𝑉 = 3 𝜋𝑟 3
To put 𝒓 subject of the formula

4𝜋𝑟 3
𝑉= 3
When fractions are involved,
When the letter you are trying
3𝑉 = 4𝜋𝑟 3 find a way to remove them
to make subject is the only
letter that is squared, or cubed, (LCM or cross-multiplication)
leave the power to the last step. 3𝑉
= 𝑟3
4𝜋
𝟑 𝟑𝑽
∴𝒓= √
𝟒𝝅

Question 7: In the equation 𝑣 2 = 𝑢2 + 2𝑎𝑠, put 𝒖 subject of the formula.

𝑉
Question 8: Put 𝒉 subject of the formula in the equation 𝑟 = √
𝜋ℎ

Question 9: Arrange the following equation to have 𝒚 subject of the formula.

2
𝑎𝑦 3 + 𝑠𝑡
𝑥 =
2𝑠𝑡 + 𝑏𝑦 3

Question 10: Find 𝑥 in terms of the other letters.

(a) (b)
3
𝑘 = ℎ + √𝑥 𝑔 = ℎ𝑥 2

(c) 𝑒 − 𝑥2 = 𝑓 (d) 2√𝑥 = 𝑞

Question 11: Write the letter inside the brackets in terms of the other letters.
(a) 𝑝𝑥 + 𝑞 = 𝑝𝑟 [𝑝] (b) 𝑎𝑏 3 − 𝑥𝑏 3 = 𝑐 [𝑏]

(c) 3(𝑃 − 𝑄 2 ) = 2 [𝑄] (d) 𝑐 = 𝑥 + √𝑑 + 𝑞𝑥 [𝑞]

Further Examples: SMP Higher Ch. 8 p. 76 – 78 Sec D

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 Year 10 Level 3 – 3*
SUBJECT OF THE FORMULA ~ WORKSHEET
ANSWERS:

𝑥 = 11
𝑥 = 11
QUESTIONS: Put the letter inside the brackets
subject of the formula

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 Year 10 Level 3 – 3*
Section 2: Substituting Numerical Values into a Formula

Substitution means putting numbers instead of variables (letters, or unknowns) to find the
value of an expression.

Example: Consider the formula for the area of a triangle

Area of ∆ = ½bh

If the triangle has a base 3cm long, and a perpendicular height 3cm high, we can substitute
the values in the RHS of the equation (where ½bh is an expression) to find the value of A.
𝐴 = ½𝑏ℎ
𝐴 = ½ × 3 × 3
𝐴 = 4.5 cm2

NOTE: When you substitute numerical values into a formula you may have a mixture
of operations, i.e. ( ), , , +, −, to perform.
SO… Remember the order of capital letters from the BIDMAS rule.

Question 12: If 𝑣 = 𝑢 + 𝑎𝑡, find 𝑣 when 𝑢 = 2, 𝑎 = ½ and 𝑡 = 4

Question 13: If 𝑠 = 𝑢𝑡 + 2 𝑎𝑡 2 , find 𝑠 when 𝑢 = 4, 𝑎 = 3 and 𝑡 = 5

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NOTE: Pay major attention when you come to substitute negative numbers!
To make things easier, it is suggested that you put the numbers to substitute in
brackets.

Question 14: If 𝑣 2 = 𝑢2 + 2𝑎𝑠 find 𝑣 when 𝑢 = −9, 𝑎 = 3 and 𝑠 = −7

NOTE: You might need to arrange the order of the formula to find the value of an
unknown variable. To do this, you can
a) either first put the letter as subject of the formula and then substitute the given
values
b) or first substitute the given values and then arrange the values to put the letter
you want subject.

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 Year 10 Level 3 – 3*
Example: Given that 2𝑆 = 𝑑(𝑎 + 𝑙), find 𝑎 when 𝑆 = 20, 𝑑 = 2 and 𝑙 = 16.

2𝑆 = 𝑑(𝑎 + 𝑙)
2(20) = 2(𝑎 + 16)
40 = 2(𝑎 + 16)
40 2(𝑎 + 16)
=
𝟐 𝟐
20 = 𝑎 + 16
20 − 𝟏𝟔 = 𝑎 + 16 − 𝟏𝟔
4=𝑎

Question 15: Given that 𝑧 = 𝑥 − 3𝑦, find the value of 𝑦 when 𝑧 = 4 and 𝑥 = 8
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Question 16: Given that 𝑧 = 𝑥 − (3𝑦)2 , find the value of:

(a) 𝑧 when 𝑥 = 312 and 𝑦 = 34
(b) 𝑧 when 𝑥 = 38 and 𝑦 = −112

Question 17: If 𝐴 = 3𝑛(𝑎 + 𝑙)

(a) Find 𝑎 when 𝐴 = 72, 𝑛 = 6, 𝑙 = 6
(b) Make 𝑎 the subject of the formula.
(c) Use the answer found in (b) to find the value of 𝑎 when 𝐴 = 72, 𝑛 = 6, 𝑙 = 6.

Further Examples: SMP Higher Ch. 8 p. 71 – 72 Sec A, Sec B nos. 1 - 3

Section 3: Generating Formulae

A formula is a set of instructions in algebraic form for calculating the value of a quantity.

Example: Form an algebraic expression for the perimeter of the rectangle below.

𝑏 cm Perimeter = 𝑏 + 𝑏 + 𝑙 + 𝑙 No units are included in

the equation.
Perimeter = 2𝑏 + 2𝑙
𝑙 cm

Question 18: Write down a formula for this statement: “A number 𝑚 is equal to twice the sum
of two numbers 𝑛 and 𝑝.” If 𝑚 = 154 and 𝑛 = 5 5, what is the value of 𝑝?
1

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 Year 10 Level 3 – 3*
Question 19: Write down a formula for this statement: “A number 𝑟 is equal to the sum of a
number 𝑠 and the product of the numbers 𝑥 and 𝑦”.

Question 20: When making tea, the number of spoonfuls of tea, 𝑁, is given by “one for each
person and one for the pot”.
(a) How many spoonfuls are needed for 6 people?
(b) Make a formula for 𝑁 if there are 𝑥 people having tea.

Question 21: A car is travelling at a speed 50km/h.

(a) How far does it travel in 3 hours?
(b) Make a formula for the distance, 𝑑 kilometres, travelled in 𝑡 hours.

Question 22: Some sheets of paper are given out to a class. One sheet is given to each
student and the remaining 5 sheets are put on the teacher’s desk.
(a) Find the total number of sheets if there are 20 students?
(b) Make a formula for 𝑁, the total number of sheets if there are 𝑥 students.
(c) On another occasion, two sheets are given to each pupil, but there are no sheets left
over. If there are 𝑥 students, make a formula for 𝑀, the total number of sheets of
paper.

Question 23: A weekly magazine costs 𝑥 cents and a daily newspaper costs 𝑦 cents.
(a) Make a formula for the total cost 𝐶 cents, of six newspapers and one magazine.
(b) What will be the total cost if a magazine costs €2.55 and a newspaper costs €1.50?

Question 24: Cloth is sold at €𝑝 per metre. The cost of 𝑁 metres is €𝑅. Find a formula for 𝑅 in
terms of 𝑁 and 𝑝.

Question 25: Fertiliser is applied at the rate of 𝑎 grams per square metre. It takes 𝑏
kilograms to cover a field of area 𝑐 square metres.
(a) Find a formula for 𝑏 in terms of 𝑎 and 𝑐.
(b) Calculate the weight of fertiliser needed, for a field measuring 2.5m by 4m if 30g of
fertiliser will be applied per square metre.

Question 26: Nigel thinks of a number. When he multiplies his number by 5 and subtracts 16,
he gets the same answer as when he adds 10 to his number and multiplies that result by 3.
Find the number Nigel is thinking of.

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 Year 10 Level 3 – 3*
Question 27: The diagram represents a garden in the shape of a rectangle. All measurements
are given in metres.
The garden has a flowerbed in one corner. The flowerbed is a
square of side 𝑥 metres.
(a) Write an expression in terms of 𝑥, for the shortest side 2

and longest side of the garden.

(b) Find an expression in terms of 𝑥, for the perimeter of Flowerbed 𝑥
the garden. Give your answer in its simplest form.
(c) The perimeter of the garden is 20metres. Find the value 5 𝑥
of 𝑥.

Question 28: A builder rents a digger. He pays a fixed charge of €30, plus €10 per hour to
rent the digger. Work out how much he pays to rent the digger for:
(a) 1 hour (b) 4 hours (c) 𝑛 hours
(d) Use you answer in part (c) to find the cost for 20 hours

Question 29: In his will, a man left his older son €10,000 more than twice as much as he left
his younger son. If the estate is worth €497,500 how much did the younger son get?

Question 30: Bob has three sacks of apples and three more apples in his pocket. Each sack
contains the same number of apples. Altogether, Bob has 33 apples. How many apples are in
each sack?

Question 31: Abdul is 180 cm tall and Mark is 10𝑥 cm tall. Abdul is taller.
Alice is 164cm tall and Miranda is 9𝑥 cm tall. Miranda is shorter.
The difference in height between the two boys is equal to the difference in height between the
two girls. How tall are Mark and Miranda?

Question 32: A square has sides of length 4𝑥 + 3 cm. A rectangle has sides of length 8𝑥 cm by
4𝑥 + 1 cm. The perimeter of these two shapes are equal. What are the dimensions of each
shape?

8𝑥 cm

(4𝑥 + 1)cm

(4𝑥 + 3)cm

Further Examples: SMP Higher Ch. 30 p. 306 – 307 Sec D

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