Download Isolating a Variable in a Formula:

NOTES 2.4 Applying the Principles to Formulas
Instructor: Sandra Peterson
Isolating a Variable in a Formula: _______________________________________________
1. ___________________________________________________________________________
2. ___________________________________________________________________________
Your turn. Isolate vi in the formula that describes the velocity of an object after being
accelerated from an initial velocity (vi), v = vi + at.
Isolate a Variable using the Multiplication Principle
a. Isolate b in the formula for the area of a parallelogram, A = bh.
b. Isolate I in the voltage formula for a series circuit with two resistors, V = I(R + r).
Isolate a Variable Using Both Principles
a. Isolate t in the formula that describes the velocity of an object after being accelerated
from an initial velocity, v = vi + at.
b. Isolate n in the formula T 
nt
 R.
r
1. What would you do to isolate w in the formula l = w – 2? Why? ______________________
__________________________________________________________________________
2. What would you do to isolate p in the formula C = np? Why? ________________________
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3. To isolate y in 2x + 3y = 8, what would you do first? Why? __________________________
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4. How can you verify that your answer is correct after isolating a variable in a formula?
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Answers to even number exercises.
2. Divide both sides by n. Since p is multiplied by n, dividing by n divides out the n, thereby
isolating p.
4. Substitute values for the variables and evaluate.