RAFFLES INSTITUTION

RAFFLES PROGRAMME 2022

Year One Mathematics
Topic 6: Algebraic Equations I
Worksheet 4 – Changing Subject of Formula (Solutions)

Name: ( ) Class: 1( ) Date:

think! Mathematics Secondary Textbook 1A (8th Edition) Chapter 5, Pages 136-139

LEARNER OUTCOMES
At the end of this lesson, students will be able to
• change the subject of a formula
• find the value of an unknown in a formula

A. Changing Subject of Formula

Given that area of a rectangle is A = lb where A is the area of rectangle, l its length and b its
breadth, we say that A is the subject of the formula.

If we need to find the length of rectangle given the dimensions for A and b, we will make l
the subject of the formula.
A = lb
A
∴l =
b
One useful application of change of formula is to find the value of an unknown.

Example 1
Make c the subject of the formula a (c − 3) = bc.

Working Summary of the process on making c the subject of formula

a (c − 3) = bc

ac − 3a = bc Step 1: Expansion

ac – bc = 3a Step 2: Collect like terms

Bring all terms with the subject together

c (a − b) = 3a Step 3: Factorisation
Factorise using new subject as common factor
3a
c= Step 4: Isolation
a −b
Isolate new subject.

We can use the above procedure to make any variable the subject of a formula.

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Example 2
x 7z + 2
If y =
4 − and y = ,
3 3
(i) express x in terms of y,
x
y= 4 −
3
3=y 12 − x
x 12 − 3 y
=

(ii) express x in terms of z,

7z + 2
Substitute =y into =
x 12 − 3 y,
3
 7z + 2 
x 12 − 3 
= 
 3 
x = 12 − 7 z − 2
x 10 − 7 z
=

(iii) find the value of x and of y if z = 0.4.

x 10 − 7 z
=
= 10 − 7(0.4)
= 10 − 2.8
= 7.2

7z + 2
y=
3
7(0.4) + 2
=
3
4.8
=
3
= 1.6

Example 3
Make x the subject of the formula 2a = 3x − 7a + 5 .

2a = 3x − 7a + 5
2a − 5= 3x − 7a
( 2a − 5 )
2
=3 x − 7 a
4a 2 − 20a + 25 = 3 x − 7 a (squaring both sides)
2
3 x = 4a − 13a + 25
4a 2 − 13a + 25
x=
3

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Example 4

Make x the subject of the formula 4( x − 2 y ) = 3( y − 2 x) − 5 .

4( x − 2 y ) = 3( y − 2 x) − 5
4x − 8 y = 3y − 6x − 5
4x + 6x = 3y + 8 y − 5
10= x 11 y − 5
11 y − 5
x=
10

Example 5
3y − 2x
Make y the subject of the formula = 2x .
2y + 5

3y − 2x
= 2x
2y + 5
3 y − 2 x = 4 xy + 10 x
3 y − 4 xy = 12 x
y (3 − 4x ) =
12 x
12 x
y=
3 − 4x

Example 6
1 2 3
Make u the subject of the formula + =.
v u p
1 2 3
+ =
v u p
Multiply puv to both sides:
pu + 2 pv = 3uv
3uv − pu = 2 pv
u (3v − p ) =2 pv
2 pv
u=
3v − p

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Example 7
1 g
Make l the subject of the formula f =
2π l .
1 g
f =
2π l
g
2π f =
l
g
4π 2 f 2 =
l
4π f l = g
2 2

g
l=
4π 2 f 2

B. Homework

Level 1 (Self-Practice)
1. Make x the subject of the following formulae.
(a) 4 x − 5 y = 3 y − 10 x − 5
4 x − 5 y = 3 y − 10 x − 5
14= x 8y − 5
8y − 5
x=
14

x+r
(b) G=
4x
x+r
G=
4x
4 xG= x + r
4 xG − x =r
x ( 4G − 1) =
r
r
x=
4G − 1

m−x x
(c) =
a 2c

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 m−x x
=
a 2c
2cm − 2cx = ax
ax + 2cx = 2cm
x ( a + 2c ) =
2cm
2cm
x=
a + 2c

(d) 3a + b a − b 2b − a
+ − =2
2x 3x 5x
3a + b a − b 2b − a
+ − =2
2x 3x 5x
15 ( 3a + b ) 10 ( a − b ) 6 ( 2b − a )
+ − 2
=
30 x 30 x 30 x
15 ( 3a + b ) + 10 ( a − b ) − 6 ( 2b − a ) =
60 x
45a + 15b + 10a − 10b − 12b + 6a =60 x
61a − 7b =60 x
61a − 7b
x=
60

8y − 5 r 2cm 61a − 7b
[Ans: (a) x = (b) x = (c) x = (d) x = ]
14 4G − 1 a + 2c 60

Level 2 (Core)

1. Make x the subject of the following formulae.

4x +1
(a) y= (b) =v gx + 3 gh
x −5

4x +1
y=
x −5
=v gx + 3 gh
y ( x − 5) = 4 x + 1
2
xy − 5 y = 4 x + 1 v= gx + 3 gh
xy − 4 x =+
1 5y gx= v 2 − 3 gh
x ( y − 4 ) =1 + 5 y v 2 − 3 gh
x=
g
1+ 5y
x=
y−4

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 1− x 1 1
(c) H
= −5 (d) + y
=
x a x

1 1
+ = y
a x
1 1
1− x = y−
H
= −5 x a
x
1 ay − 1
1 =
H = −1− 5 x a
x
a
1 x=
H +6= ay − 1
x
2
1  a 
x= x= 
H +6  ay − 1 
a2
x=
( ay − 1)
2

a q −4p
2. Make p the subject of the formula = .
3b p

a q −4p
=
3b p

a2 q − 4 p
=
9b 2 p

9b 2 q − 36b 2 p =
a2 p
2
9b= q a 2 p + 36b 2 p

b 2 q p ( a 2 + 36b 2 )
9=

9b 2 q
p=
a 2 + 36b 2

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3. Identify the error(s), if any, in the following solution, by circling where they first
occur. Rectify the mistake(s) and provide the correct solution.

x x x 2
Make x the subject of the formula − + =.
a b c d

Solution:
x x x 2
− + =
a b c d

x 2
= Wrong concept of fractions!
a −b+c d

2(a − b + c)
x=
d

Amended Solution:

x x x 2
− + =
a b c d
 bc − ac + ab  2
x =
 abc  d
2abc
x=
d ( bc − ac + ab )

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Level 3 (Challenge Yourself)

1. Make k the subject of the formula 16k 2 − 16k + 4 − 4 z 2 =

102 .
1 ± z 2 + 25
[Ans: k = ]
2
16k 2 − 16k + 4 − 4 z 2 =
100
16k 2 − 16k + 4= 4 z 2 + 100
( 4k − 2 ) = 4 ( z 2 + 25 )
2

4k − 2 =±2 z 2 + 25
±2 z 2 + 25 + 2
4k =
2 ± 2 z 2 + 25
k=
4
1 ± z 2 + 25
k=
2

2. A formula of motion is given by v= 2

u 2 + 2as. Another formula of motion is given
by v= u + at.
(a) Express s in terms of u, v and t.
v= u + at
v −u
a=
t
v −u 2
Sub =a into v= u 2 + 2as
t
2  v −u 
v= u 2 + 2s  
 t 
v2 − u 2
s=
 v −u 
2 
 t 
t
s = (v + u )(v − u ) ×
2(v − u )

s=
(v + u ) t
2

(b) If u = 3, v =15 and t = 5, find the values of

(i) s,
s=
(15 + 3) × 5
2
= 45

Page 8 of 10
 (ii) a.
15 − 3
a=
5
12
=
5
= 2.4
(v + u ) t
[Ans: (a) s = (b)(i) 45 (ii) 2.4]
2

C. Extra Questions for Teachers

5k 2 2 gh
1. Make k the subject of the formula + h2 = − g.
2 5

5k 2 2 gh Notes for Teachers

+ h2 = −g
2 5
Multiply 10 to both sides: ± will only be exposed in Year 2
25k 2 + 10h 2 =4 gh − 10 g
25k 2 = 4 gh − 10 g − 10h 2
4 gh − 10 g − 10h 2
k2 =
25
4 gh − 10 g − 10h 2
k= ±
25
4 gh − 10 g − 10h 2
k= ±
5

p2 + q2 r 2
2. Make p the subject of the formula = .
p2 − q2 4
p2 + q2 r 2
=
p2 − q2 4
4 p 2 + 4q 2 = p 2 r 2 − q 2 r 2
p 2 (r 2 − 4)
= q 2 (r 2 + 4)
q 2 (r 2 + 4)
p2 =
r2 − 4
q 2 (r 2 + 4)
p= ±
r2 − 4
r2 + 4
p = ±q
( r + 2 )( r − 2 )

Page 9 of 10
To be shifted to Topic 5 Worksheet 2

Example 4

If a 2 + b 2 =
18 and a + b =8 find the value of ab .

(a + b)
2
82
=
a 2 + 2ab + b 2 =
64
2ab + 18 =64
2ab = 46
ab = 23

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