Question

How do you solve: `5y - 2 = 2y + 19`?

Answer 1

See full solution process below:

Explanation:

First we need to add and subtract the necessary terms from each side of the equation to isolate the `y` terms on one side of the equation and the constants on the other side of the equation while keeping the equation balanced:

`5y - 2 - color(red)(2y) + color(blue)(2) = 2y + 19 - color(red)(2y) + color(blue)(2)`

`5y - color(red)(2y) - 2 + color(blue)(2) = 2y - color(red)(2y) + 19 + color(blue)(2)`

`(5 - 2)y - 0 = 0 + 21`

`3y = 21`

We can now divide each side of the equation by `color(red)(3)` to solve for `y` while keeping the equation balanced:

`(3y)/color(red)(3) = 21/color(red)(3)`

`(color(red)(cancel(color(black)(3)))y)/cancel(color(red)(3)) = 7`

`y = 7`