Rearranging formulas explained
Use this guide to review how formula rearrangement works before testing your own expression in the app.
What this topic means and what to look for first.
Rearranging a formula means making one chosen variable the subject.
The safest route is to undo the operations in reverse order.
One reliable route through the topic.
- 1Decide which variable you want to isolate.
- 2Identify the operations acting on that variable.
- 3Undo addition and subtraction first where possible.
- 4Undo multiplication and division next.
- 5Check that the chosen variable is alone on one side.
See the method in action.
Make x the subject of y = 3x + 7
- Subtract 7 from both sides to get y - 7 = 3x.
- Divide both sides by 3.
- So x = (y - 7) / 3.
Make h the subject of V = lwh
- Divide both sides by lw.
- This gives h = V / (lw).
Things that commonly send the method off track.
- Undoing multiplication before clearing addition or subtraction.
- Dropping brackets when dividing a multi-term expression.
Want to test your own problem next?
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A free account is the current follow-up route for returning to the solver beta and future guide updates as the public library grows.
Want to try a similar problem yourself?
Create a free account if you want to use the solver beta after reading the guide.
A free account is the current follow-up route for returning to the solver beta and future guide updates as the public library grows.
Extra algebra revision resources
If you want more printed algebra practice after this page, these broader searches are a sensible next step.
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Short answers worth checking.
Brackets preserve the structure of the numerator or denominator after you move terms around.
Yes. Different but equivalent algebraic forms may represent the same rearranged formula.
Continue with the next closely related topic.
Use the public site structure first, then switch into the solver tool only if you need a direct test.
CureMath uses artificial intelligence to suggest how a maths problem could potentially be solved. AI can make mistakes.
Check important answers independently before relying on them.