the algebraic process you use to isolate a variable in order to find what values,numbers will make an equation true.you the equation

The algebraic process used to isolate a variable in order to find the values or numbers that will make an equation true is known as "solving for the variable." This involves a series of steps, which include:

1. Simplify both sides of the equation, if necessary, by eliminating parentheses (using distribution) and combining like terms.

2. Move all terms containing the variable you are solving for to one side of the equation and all other terms to the opposite side. You can do this by adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing both sides of the equation by the same number (except for zero, as dividing by zero is undefined).

3. Continue to simplify the equation until the variable is by itself on one side. This might involve: - Adding or subtracting terms from both sides to get all variable terms on one side and all constant terms on the other side. - Multiplying or dividing both sides by the coefficient of the variable (if the variable is multiplied by a number) to isolate the variable.

4. Once the variable is isolated, you should have an equation in the form of "variable = number," which tells you the value of the variable that makes the equation true.

Here is an example of solving a simple linear equation:

Equation: 3x + 5 = 20

Step 1: Subtract 5 from both sides to move the constant term to the other side. 3x + 5 - 5 = 20 - 5 3x = 15

Step 2: Divide both sides by 3 to isolate the variable x. 3x/3 = 15/3 x = 5

Now, x = 5 is the solution to the equation. This means that if you substitute 5 for x in the original equation, it will make the equation true