Question

Find the value of the variable.

$-2b=6$

Short answer

The value of the variable is $\mathit{b}\mathbf{=}\mathbf{-}\mathbf{3}$.

Step-by-step solution

Step 1. Divide by 2.

To find the value of variable b in the equation $-2b=6$, divide both sides of the equation by 2.

$-\frac{2b}{2}=\frac{6}{2}$

Step 2. Simplify the equation.

To further simplify, cancel the common factors of 2 on both sides.

$\begin{array}{l}-\frac{2b}{2}=\frac{3\times 2}{2}\\ -b=3\end{array}$

Step 3. Multiply by -1.

In order to obtain b, multiply the equation $-b=3$from both sides$-1$.

$\begin{array}{c}-b\times \left(-1\right)=3\times \left(-1\right)\\ b=-3\end{array}$

Step 4. Verify the value.

In order to verify the value of b, substitute -3 for b into the equation $-2b=6$.

$\begin{array}{l}-2\times \left(-3\right)=6\\ 6=6\text{True}\end{array}$

Hence, the value of the variable is $b=-3$.