How do you know what numbers to subtract from both sides? - Answers

Consider newtons equation: v = (a * t) + u, and you need to isolate a because you have the values for v, t and u and need to find a, first subtract u from both sides, gives v - u = (a * t) + u - u, the + u - u cancel leaving v - u = a * t, so essentially you've moved the u from one side to the other, then you would divide both sides by t, the t's would cancel out on the right side, leaving(v - u) / t = a, essentially you've moved the t over to the other side, now a is isolated and can be calculated..Consider x + 4 = 10: find x (isolate x), subtract 4 from both sides, leavingx + 4 - 4 = 10 - 4, the 4's cancel out on the left, leaving x = 10 - 4, so x = 6