How do you simplify #y- 4= - \frac { 1} { 2} ( x + 2)#?

1 Answer
May 29, 2017

See a solution process below:

Explanation:

First, we can expand the terms in parenthesis on the right side of the equation by multiplying each term within the parenthesis by the term outside the parenthesis:

#y - 4 = color(red)(-1/2)(x + 2)#

#y - 4 = (color(red)(-1/2) xx x) + (color(red)(-1/2) xx 2)#

#y - 4 = -1/2x + (-1)#

#y - 4 = -1/2x - 1#

Next, we can add #color(red)(4)# to each side of the equation to solve for #y# while keeping the equation balanced:

#y - 4 + color(red)(4) = -1/2x - 1 + color(red)(4)#

#y - 0 = -1/2x + 3#

#y = -1/2x + 3#