Answers (2)
You need to learn standard math notation because that is the language we speak.
a=square root of b-x/x This is ambiguous, so I have to guess at what you meant.
a = √(b - x)/x Parentheses indicate what is treated as a group. It has to be (b - x) because any other grouping would be nonsense. But we are not supposed to have to guess, you are supposed to indicate that. Notice that I also use spaces to improve readability.
a = √(b - x)/x The rule is you can do any valid operation on both sides of an equation and it will still be equal. Multiply by x. Now you have to remember that any time you multiply or divide by the subject, you might introduce invalid results or conceal valid results. So you have to check your answers in the original statement.
ax = √(b - x) Square both sides.
a^2 * x^2 = b - x Add x.
a^2 * x^2 + x = b Subtract b.
a^2 * x^2 + x - b = 0 Quadratic formula time. This might be confusing because the formula uses a, b, and c, where a = a^2, b = 1, and c = -b. But it's up to you to handle that.
