Question

What is the value of a?
14 – 2a = 4a – 16

Answer 1

14 - 2x = 4a - 16

First, add 2a to both sides. / Your problem should look like: $14 = 4a - 16 + 2a$
Second, simplify 4a - 16 + 2a to get 6a - 16. / Your problem should look like: $14 = 6a - 16$
Third, add 16 to both sides. / Your problem should look like: $14 + 16 = 6a$
Fourth, add 14 + 16 to get 30. / Your problem should look like: $30 = 6a$
Fifth, divide both sides by 6. / Your problem should look like: $\frac{30}{6} = a$
Sixth, 6 goes into 5 to get 30, so simplify $\frac{30}{6}$ to 5. / Your problem should look like: $5 = a$
Seventh, switch your sides. / Your problem should look like: $a = 5$

Answer: a = 5

Answer 2

14−2a=4a−16

14+−2a=4a+−16

−2a+14=4a−16

Subtract 4a from both sides.

−2a+14−4a=4a−16−4a

−6a+14=−16

Subtract 14 from both sides.

−6a+14−14=−16−14

−6a=−30

Divide both sides by -6.

−6a/−6=−30/−6

a=5