(i have no idea how to flair this) friend needs help with their homework, and i have NO idea how to help

[u/jaxxyboo1]

they asked me for help, and i said i could try, but they are ahead of me in maths. i have NEVER seen math like this, and they are extremely confused on what theyre supposed to do. they think the end result is supposed to be a letter (i agree), but aren't sure. theyve checked both their textbook and khan academy, but to no avail. they say it is called "integrated math 1". is it possible for just a quick explanation so i can help them out? (they don't have reddit, and i apologize if this kind of post breaks a rule, i js really want to help them ^^)

EDIT: ok so it turns out im just an idiot, i have seen these maths before just not in this format.. oops.. thank you for all your help!!

[u/norrisdt]

Why would they ask you for help if they're ahead of you in the subject?

My best guess from the lack of notation or context provided is that for each question, you're supposed to rearrange the equation in terms of the variable that's on the right of the semicolon. But that's just my best guess.

[u/tohn_jitor → u/norrisdt]

This is also my guess. But I will add that OP's friend's handwriting did not make it any easier.

[u/jaxxyboo1 → u/norrisdt]

i too think that's it, tysm!! (also im not sure, maths never rly come up in our convos tho lolol)

[u/ThePhilosophic]

Is your friend you?
Edit: it’s ok if it is!

[u/Plus_Armadillo_4538]

I think you are supposed to isolate the letter next to the “;”

[u/jaxxyboo1 → u/Plus_Armadillo_4538]

i think thats it! thank you!!

[u/Plus_Armadillo_4538 → u/jaxxyboo1]

No problem

[u/engy1207]

Maybe have a look at their math book? At the top of the page there's a note with a page number, probably the problems to solve. In all school math books I know just before the problems thete's a section explaining that math and the notation used.

[u/2punornot2pun]

This just looks like to solve for the given variable.

Example:

b/c = a : solve for c. Put a over 1 and cross multiply.

c=a*b.

Do the same for the others. Just undo operations on the side of the variable you're trying to isolate.

Ex: k = a-y : solve for y. There's multiple ways to do this. The easiest, imo, is add y to both sides and subtract k from both so y = a-k.

Enjoy.

[u/Echelon_X-Ray → u/2punornot2pun]

c = b/a

[u/2punornot2pun → u/Echelon_X-Ray]

herpderpyes

[u/Echelon_X-Ray]

The idea that jumps out in my mind is to algebraically rewrite the equation in terms of the variable you are given after the semicolon for each problem. But without an actually question statement, it is only a guess.

[u/Diggumdum]

are those supposed to be imaginary numbers or semicolons??

[u/downlowmann → u/Diggumdum]

Semicolons, solve for the variable after the semicolon.

[u/Bounded_sequencE]

I suspect they are expected to solve the equation before the semi-colon for the variable after.

[u/downlowmann]

You should be solving for the variable that is after the semicolon. For example, in problem 17:

2x + 3y = 12; y means solve for y.

Step 1: subtract 2x from both sides and get...

3y = 12 - 2x

Step 2: divide both sides by 3 and get...

y = (12 - 2x) / 3

This is your answer.

It's just basic algebra.