Rearranging Formulas to Highlight Quantities - Algebra 2

  1. What is xx when you solve y=log⁡b(x)y = \log_b(x) for xx (assume b>0b>0, b≠1b\ne 1)?
    x=byx = b^y. Apply the definition of logarithms: log⁡b(x)=y\log_b(x) = y means by=xb^y = x.
  2. What is PP when you solve A=P(1+rt)A = P(1 + rt) for PP (assume 1+rt≠01+rt \ne 0)?
    P=A1+rtP = \frac{A}{1 + rt}. Divide both sides by (1+rt)(1 + rt).
  3. What is xx when you solve y=(ax+b)2y = (ax + b)^2 for xx (with a≠0a \ne 0)?
    x=±y−bax = \frac{\pm\sqrt{y} - b}{a}. Take square root of both sides, then solve for xx.
  4. What is VV when you solve Ohm's law V=IRV = IR for VV?
    V=IRV = IR. No rearrangement needed; VV is already isolated.
  5. What is aa when you solve y=a(bx)y = a(b^x) for aa (assume bx≠0b^x \ne 0)?
    a=ybxa = \frac{y}{b^x}. Divide both sides by bxb^x.
  6. What is bb when you solve y=log⁡b(x)y = \log_b(x) for bb (assume x>0x>0, y≠0y \ne 0)?
    b=x1yb = x^{\frac{1}{y}}. Rewrite as by=xb^y = x, then solve for bb.
  7. What is WW when you solve P=2L+2WP = 2L + 2W for WW (treat P,LP,L as constants)?
    W=P−2L2W = \frac{P - 2L}{2}. Subtract 2L2L, then divide by 22.
  8. What is xx when you solve y=ln⁡(x)y = \ln(x) for xx?
    x=eyx = e^y. Apply the inverse relationship between ln⁡\ln and ee.
  9. What is hh when you solve y=a(x−h)2+ky = a(x - h)^2 + k for hh (assume a≠0a \ne 0)?
    h=x±y−kah = x \pm \sqrt{\frac{y - k}{a}}. Isolate the squared term, take square root, then solve for hh.
  10. What is xx when you solve y=a(x−h)2+ky = a(x - h)^2 + k for xx (with a≠0a \ne 0)?
    x=h±y−kax = h \pm \sqrt{\frac{y - k}{a}}. Isolate the squared term, take square root, then add hh.
  11. What is PP when you solve A=P(1+rn)ntA = P\left(1 + \frac{r}{n}\right)^{nt} for PP?
    P=A(1+rn)ntP = \frac{A}{\left(1 + \frac{r}{n}\right)^{nt}}. Divide by the compound interest factor.
  12. What is r2r_2 when you solve A=π(r12−r22)A = \pi(r_1^2 - r_2^2) for r2r_2 (assume r2≥0r_2 \ge 0)?
    r2=r12−Aπr_2 = \sqrt{r_1^2 - \frac{A}{\pi}}. Solve for r22r_2^2 and take the square root.
  13. What is xx when you solve 1x=a\frac{1}{x} = a (with a≠0a \ne 0) for xx?
    x=1ax = \frac{1}{a}. Take the reciprocal of both sides.
  14. What is xx when you solve y=x−hy = \sqrt{x - h} for xx?
    x=y2+hx = y^2 + h. Square both sides, then add hh.
  15. What is tt when you solve A=P(1+rt)A = P(1 + rt) for tt (with Pr≠0Pr \ne 0)?
    t=AP−1rt = \frac{\frac{A}{P} - 1}{r}. Divide by PP, subtract 11, then divide by rr.
  16. What is mm when you solve y=mx+by = mx + b (with x≠0x \neq 0) for mm?
    m=y−bxm = \frac{y - b}{x}. Subtract bb, then divide by xx.
  17. What is xx when you solve ax+b=cax + b = c (with a≠0a \ne 0) for xx?
    x=c−bax = \frac{c - b}{a}. Divide both sides by aa after isolating axax.
  18. What is bb when you solve triangle area A=12bhA = \frac{1}{2}bh for bb (with h≠0h \ne 0)?
    b=2Ahb = \frac{2A}{h}. Multiply by 22, then divide by hh.
  19. What is xx when you solve y=ax+by = \frac{a}{x} + b for xx (with y≠by \ne b)?
    x=ay−bx = \frac{a}{y - b}. Subtract bb, then divide aa by the result.
  20. What is rr when you solve d=rtd = rt for rr (with t≠0t \ne 0)?
    r=dtr = \frac{d}{t}. Divide both sides by tt.
  21. What is bb when you solve y=mx+by = mx + b for bb?
    b=y−mxb = y - mx. Subtract mxmx from both sides.
  22. What is RR when you solve Ohm's law V=IRV = IR for RR (with I≠0I \ne 0)?
    R=VIR = \frac{V}{I}. Divide both sides by II to isolate resistance.
  23. What is xx when you solve ax2=bax^2 = b for xx (with a≠0a \ne 0)?
    x=±bax = \pm\sqrt{\frac{b}{a}}. Divide by aa, then take square root with ±\pm.
  24. What is xx when you solve a(x+h)=ka(x + h) = k (with a≠0a \ne 0) for xx?
    x=ka−hx = \frac{k}{a} - h. Divide by aa, then subtract hh from both sides.
  25. What is II when you solve Ohm's law V=IRV = IR for II (with R≠0R \ne 0)?
    I=VRI = \frac{V}{R}. Divide both sides by RR to isolate current.
  26. What is bb when you solve y=a(bx)y = a(b^x) for bb (assume a>0a>0, y>0y>0)?
    b=(ya)1xb = \left(\frac{y}{a}\right)^{\frac{1}{x}}. Take the xxth root of ya\frac{y}{a}.
  27. What is hh when you solve triangle area A=12bhA = \frac{1}{2}bh for hh (with b≠0b \ne 0)?
    h=2Abh = \frac{2A}{b}. Multiply by 22, then divide by bb.
  28. What is the correct first step to isolate xx in ax+b=cax + b = c (with a≠0a \ne 0)?
    Subtract bb: ax=c−bax = c - b. Use inverse operations to isolate the term with xx.
  29. What is xx when you solve xa=b\frac{x}{a} = b (with a≠0a \ne 0) for xx?
    x=abx = ab. Multiply both sides by aa to eliminate the fraction.
  30. What is xx when you solve a=bxa = \frac{b}{x} (with a≠0a \ne 0) for xx?
    x=bax = \frac{b}{a}. Cross-multiply to get ax=bax = b, then divide by aa.
  31. What is rr when you solve A=P(1+rt)A = P(1 + rt) for rr (with Pt≠0Pt \ne 0)?
    r=AP−1tr = \frac{\frac{A}{P} - 1}{t}. Divide by PP, subtract 11, then divide by tt.
  32. What is xx when you solve y=ax+by = \sqrt{ax + b} for xx (with a≠0a \ne 0)?
    x=y2−bax = \frac{y^2 - b}{a}. Square both sides, subtract bb, then divide by aa.
  33. What is kk when you solve y=a(x−h)2+ky = a(x - h)^2 + k for kk?
    k=y−a(x−h)2k = y - a(x - h)^2. Subtract the squared term from both sides.
  34. What is rr when you solve V=πr2hV = \pi r^2 h for rr (assume h>0h>0)?
    r=Vπhr = \sqrt{\frac{V}{\pi h}}. Divide by πh\pi h, then take the square root.
  35. What is xx when you solve y=ax+bcy = \frac{ax + b}{c} for xx (with a≠0a \ne 0, c≠0c \ne 0)?
    x=cy−bax = \frac{cy - b}{a}. Multiply by cc, subtract bb, then divide by aa.
  36. What is cc when you solve the Pythagorean theorem a2+b2=c2a^2 + b^2 = c^2 for cc?
    c=a2+b2c = \sqrt{a^2 + b^2}. Take the square root of both sides.
  37. What is xx when you solve a(x−h)=ka(x - h) = k (with a≠0a \ne 0) for xx?
    x=ka+hx = \frac{k}{a} + h. Divide by aa, then add hh to both sides.
  38. What is xx when you solve ax=bax = b (with a≠0a \ne 0) for xx?
    x=bax = \frac{b}{a}. Divide both sides by aa to isolate xx.
  39. What is hh when you solve the cylinder volume formula V=πr2hV = \pi r^2 h for hh?
    h=Vπr2h = \frac{V}{\pi r^2}. Divide both sides by πr2\pi r^2.
  40. What is rr when you solve the circle area formula A=πr2A = \pi r^2 for rr?
    r=Aπr = \sqrt{\frac{A}{\pi}}. Divide by π\pi, then take the square root.
  41. What is rr when you solve circumference C=2πrC = 2\pi r for rr?
    r=C2πr = \frac{C}{2\pi}. Divide both sides by 2π2\pi.
  42. What is xx when you solve y=mx+by = mx + b (with m≠0m \ne 0) for xx?
    x=y−bmx = \frac{y - b}{m}. Subtract bb, then divide by mm.

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