Basic Math Examples

$a + (a - 4) = (a + 5) - (a + 1)$

Step 1

Add $a$ and $a$ .

$2 a - 4 = a + 5 - (a + 1)$

Step 2

Simplify $a + 5 - (a + 1)$ .

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Step 2.1

Simplify each term.

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Step 2.1.1

Apply the distributive property.

$2 a - 4 = a + 5 - a - 1 \cdot 1$

Step 2.1.2

Multiply $- 1$ by $1$ .

$2 a - 4 = a + 5 - a - 1$

Step 2.2

Simplify by adding terms.

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Step 2.2.1

Combine the opposite terms in $a + 5 - a - 1$ .

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Step 2.2.1.1

Subtract $a$ from $a$ .

$2 a - 4 = 0 + 5 - 1$

Step 2.2.1.2

Add $0$ and $5$ .

$2 a - 4 = 5 - 1$

Step 2.2.2

Subtract $1$ from $5$ .

$2 a - 4 = 4$

Step 3

Move all terms not containing $a$ to the right side of the equation.

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Step 3.1

Add $4$ to both sides of the equation.

$2 a = 4 + 4$

Step 3.2

Add $4$ and $4$ .

$2 a = 8$

Step 4

Divide each term in $2 a = 8$ by $2$ and simplify.

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Step 4.1

Divide each term in $2 a = 8$ by $2$ .

$\frac{2 a}{2} = \frac{8}{2}$

Step 4.2

Simplify the left side.

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Step 4.2.1

Cancel the common factor of $2$ .

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Step 4.2.1.1

Cancel the common factor.

$\frac{2 a}{2} = \frac{8}{2}$

Step 4.2.1.2

Divide $a$ by $1$ .

$a = \frac{8}{2}$

Step 4.3

Simplify the right side.

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Step 4.3.1

Divide $8$ by $2$ .

$a = 4$