Question

How do you solve `2/7q=-4`?

Answer 1

q = -14

Explanation:

To solve this problem, you need to isolate the variable, which in this case is `color(red)(q)`.

I like to think of it like `color(red)(q)` is very snobby, and wants to be alone by himself.

As you can see, in the Problem, q is stuck on the same side as `2/7`, and he really doesn't like that. So we need to cancel it out somehow. And to do this we will use reciprocals.

What exactly is a reciprocal? Well reciprocals are basically the exact opposite of a fraction, because they are flipped over. See, when you multiply any fraction with its reciprocal, or opposite, then they cancel out and make 1. For example, the fraction `3/4`'s reciprocal would be `4/3`, and `3/4` x `4/3` = 1. So the reciprocal of `2/7` is `7/2` and we multiply the whole equation by `7/2`.