Question

What question would you ask yourself if you want to solve the equation $-4t=28$mentally?

Short answer

The question is equivalent to ‘What is the value of the variable‘t’ when$28$ is divided by’$-4$.

Step-by-step solution

What is a variable?

A symbol we usually pick letters to be symbols, usually represents a number. Any letter you choose can be a variable.

How do you describe an Algebraic Expression? 

A variable is a symbol that stands in for an unknown value in a mathematical expression. A variable expression is a combination of terms and mathematical operations that contains at least one variable. Example a + 2x + 10

Apply the concept of equation: 

An equation is a mathematical statement that two expressions are equal. The solution of an equation is the value that when substituted for the variable makes the equation a true statement.

Example: 3x + 5 = 14 is an equation, in which 3x+5 and 14 are two expressions separated by an ‘’equal’’ sign.

Step 4: What question would you ask yourself if you want to solve the equation:  – 4 t = 28  mentally?

The equation given in the question:$-4t=28$

On simplification

$\begin{array}{l}-4·t=28\\ \frac{-4·t}{-4}=\frac{28}{-4}\text{\hspace{0.17em}\hspace{0.17em}\hspace{0.17em}\hspace{0.17em}\hspace{0.17em}Divide\hspace{0.17em}\hspace{0.17em}both\hspace{0.17em}\hspace{0.17em}sides\hspace{0.17em}\hspace{0.17em}by\hspace{0.17em}\hspace{0.17em}the\hspace{0.17em}\hspace{0.17em}coefficient\hspace{0.17em}\hspace{0.17em}}(-4)\text{\hspace{0.17em}\hspace{0.17em}of\hspace{0.17em}\hspace{0.17em}}t\\ \Rightarrow t=-7\end{array}$

From the equation $-4t=28$ we get the value of the variable‘t’ is negative 7.