welcome to this learning object chemistry math. solving a formula in
chemistr,y we use mathematical expressions to show how real physical
phenomena are related. for instance D equals M divided by V
says that the mass of a substance divided by its volume is the density of
the substance. we use the tools of simple algebra to manipulate the symbols and
quantities found in such expressions. this lets us rearrange the formula and
solve for whatever term we want. the term you want to find has to be all by itself
on one side of the equal sign with everything else on the other side.
it doesn't matter on which side you show the unknown term. density equals mass
divided by volume is the same as mass divided by volume equals density. you may
add subtract multiply or divide to remove other terms. the key principle is
that whatever you do to one side of the equation you must do to the other side
as well. what if you want to solve the density formula for M mass? you have to
get M all by itself. to remove a term that's below a dividing line you
multiply both sides by that term. so remove the V term by multiplying each
side by V.
on the right, v divided by itself equals 1 so they cancel each other out.
the formula is now solved for M. mass equals volume times density.
to remove a term that's multiplying another one, you divide both sides by
that multiplier. in the equation, V times D equals M. to solve for V you divide
both sides by D.
now, solve this formula for n P times V equals n times R times T
now for the addition and subtraction to remove an added term you subtract it
from both sides. solve for degrees Celsius. in the
equation K equals degrees Celsius plus 273
remember this is the same as degrees Celsius equals K minus 273
to remove a subtracted term add it to both sides solve for K in the equation K
minus 273 equals degrees Celsius
now combine the rules to solve this temperature conversion formula four
degrees Celsius degrees Fahrenheit equals one point eight times degrees
Celsius plus 32 rule remove the most distant terms first in this case the
added term plus 32 is farther away from the degrees Celsius so remove it first
now remove the multiplier
degrees Celsius equals degrees Fahrenheit minus 32 divided by 1.8 in
order to check our final answer let's try our last example in Reverse solve
for degrees Fahrenheit what is the most distant term this time in this case it
is the 1.8 dividing term because it applies to degrees Fahrenheit minus 32
as a group.
1.8 degrees Celsius plus 32 equals degrees Fahrenheit.
congratulations you have completed this learning object chemistry math solving a
formula.