Jonny is solving this equation for n : 8 + 3n = 20 . His first step is to subtract 8 from both sides of the equation. Why?
Jonny subtracts 8 from both sides of the equation to isolate the variable n and simplify the equation. This step helps him move the constant term to the other side of the equation, making it easier to solve for n.
Jonny is subtracting 8 from both sides of the equation in order to isolate the variable term (3n) on one side. By doing this, he can solve for n without having any constants on the same side as the variable.
To solve the equation 8 + 3n = 20, Jonny subtracts 8 from both sides of the equation as his first step. He does this to isolate the variable 'n' on one side of the equation.
By subtracting 8 from both sides, Jonny eliminates the constant term (8) from the left side of the equation. This will simplify the equation further, allowing him to focus on solving for 'n' without any constant terms on that side.
Let's see how Jonny's first step helps in solving the equation:
8 + 3n = 20
By subtracting 8 from both sides:
8 - 8 + 3n = 20 - 8
On the left side, 8 - 8 simplifies to 0, so we are left with:
3n = 12
Now, 'n' is only on one side of the equation, allowing Jonny to proceed with additional steps to solve for 'n'.