Question

How do you solve for `y` in the equation `2x+2y=10`?

Answer 1

y = 5 - x

Explanation:

To solve for y we require to isolate the y term on the left side and place all other terms on the right side.
Remember to do the reverse operation when moving terms across the '=' sign.
The reverse of addition is subtraction and vice-versa. Similarly with multiplication and division.

hence : 2y = 10 - 2x

y is being multiplied by 2 , so divide by 2 to obtain y.

`rArry=(10-2x)/2=10/2-(2x)/2=5-x`

Answer 2

There is no one exact solution for y.
One can only write y "in terms of x".
`y = 5 -x`

Explanation:

As there are 2 variables in the equation, there is not only one solution as is the case if there is only one variable.

One can only write y "in terms of x".

An exact numerical value for y can only be calculated if a value of x is given.

This is exactly why graphs are drawn for equations with 2 variables - a line consists of infinitely many points, each of which is a solution to the equation of that line..