Basic Math Examples

$(4 a + 2) (a - 6) = 0$

Step 1

If any individual factor on the left side of the equation is equal to $0$ , the entire expression will be equal to $0$ .

$4 a + 2 = 0$

$a - 6 = 0$

Step 2

Set $4 a + 2$ equal to $0$ and solve for $a$ .

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Step 2.1

Set $4 a + 2$ equal to $0$ .

$4 a + 2 = 0$

Step 2.2

Solve $4 a + 2 = 0$ for $a$ .

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Step 2.2.1

Subtract $2$ from both sides of the equation.

$4 a = - 2$

Step 2.2.2

Divide each term in $4 a = - 2$ by $4$ and simplify.

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Step 2.2.2.1

Divide each term in $4 a = - 2$ by $4$ .

$\frac{4 a}{4} = \frac{- 2}{4}$

Step 2.2.2.2

Simplify the left side.

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Step 2.2.2.2.1

Cancel the common factor of $4$ .

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Step 2.2.2.2.1.1

Cancel the common factor.

$\frac{4 a}{4} = \frac{- 2}{4}$

Step 2.2.2.2.1.2

Divide $a$ by $1$ .

$a = \frac{- 2}{4}$

Step 2.2.2.3

Simplify the right side.

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Step 2.2.2.3.1

Cancel the common factor of $- 2$ and $4$ .

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Step 2.2.2.3.1.1

Factor $2$ out of $- 2$ .

$a = \frac{2 (- 1)}{4}$

Step 2.2.2.3.1.2

Cancel the common factors.

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Step 2.2.2.3.1.2.1

Factor $2$ out of $4$ .

$a = \frac{2 \cdot - 1}{2 \cdot 2}$

Step 2.2.2.3.1.2.2

Cancel the common factor.

$a = \frac{2 \cdot - 1}{2 \cdot 2}$

Step 2.2.2.3.1.2.3

Rewrite the expression.

$a = \frac{- 1}{2}$

Step 2.2.2.3.2

Move the negative in front of the fraction.

$a = - \frac{1}{2}$

Step 3

Set $a - 6$ equal to $0$ and solve for $a$ .

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Step 3.1

Set $a - 6$ equal to $0$ .

$a - 6 = 0$

Step 3.2

Add $6$ to both sides of the equation.

$a = 6$

Step 4

The final solution is all the values that make $(4 a + 2) (a - 6) = 0$ true.

$a = - \frac{1}{2}, 6$

Step 5

The result can be shown in multiple forms.

Exact Form:

$a = - \frac{1}{2}, 6$

Decimal Form:

$a = - 0.5, 6$