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what is the value of x 40 55

what is the value of x 40 55

2 min read 25-12-2024
what is the value of x 40 55

This article will guide you through solving the equation 40 = 55 - x to find the value of x. We'll break down the steps and explain the underlying mathematical principles. Understanding how to solve for an unknown variable like 'x' is fundamental in algebra and many real-world applications.

Understanding the Equation

The equation 40 = 55 - x represents a simple algebraic expression. Our goal is to isolate 'x' on one side of the equation to determine its value. This involves using basic algebraic operations.

Step-by-Step Solution

  1. Isolate the term with 'x': To isolate the term with 'x' (which is -x), we need to get rid of the 55 on the right side of the equation. We can do this by subtracting 55 from both sides of the equation. This maintains the equation's balance.

    40 - 55 = 55 - x - 55

  2. Simplify: Performing the subtraction, we get:

    -15 = -x

  3. Solve for 'x': We now have -x = -15. To find the value of x, we need to multiply both sides of the equation by -1. This changes the sign of both terms.

    (-1) * (-15) = (-1) * (-x)

  4. Final Answer: This simplifies to:

    15 = x or x = 15

Therefore, the value of x is 15\boxed{15}.

Verifying the Solution

We can verify our solution by substituting x = 15 back into the original equation:

40 = 55 - x 40 = 55 - 15 40 = 40

The equation holds true, confirming that our solution, x = 15, is correct.

Real-World Applications

Solving for unknowns like 'x' is crucial in various fields:

  • Finance: Calculating interest, principal, or time in financial formulas.
  • Engineering: Determining unknown variables in physics equations.
  • Computer Science: Solving algorithms and programming problems.
  • Statistics: Calculating probabilities and statistical measures.

Mastering this basic algebraic skill opens doors to tackling more complex mathematical problems.

Further Exploration

This problem was a simple linear equation. As you progress in your mathematical studies, you'll encounter more complex equations requiring different techniques to solve for 'x'. Resources like Khan Academy offer excellent tutorials and practice problems to build your skills.

This article explained how to solve for x in the equation 40 = 55 - x, finding the value of x to be 15. The solution was explained step-by-step and its verification shown. The importance of this basic algebraic skill was discussed, along with its applicability to real-world situations. Further learning resources were also suggested for continued skill development.

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