lets say i were simply solving 12-4=8. i would start by adding 8 on both sides right? but why can i start with subtracting 12? arent we supposed to go in order from left to right? somebody please explain
+33661 Your example is not an equation (it's an identity). An equation contains one or more unknowns. For example 12x - 4 = 8 is a linear equation in a single unknown. You add or subtract terms to both sides so that similar types are together. In the above you would add 4 to both sides to get the constants together: 12x - 4 + 4 = 8 + 4 or 12x = 12. Now you divide both sides by 12 to isolate the unknown: 12x/12 = 12/12 or x = 1. Now you have solved for what was originally unknown.
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