Solve (2-a)/(a+1)=4

$$\frac { ( 2 - a ) } { ( a + 1 ) } = 4$$

Solve for a

$$a=-\frac{2}{5}=-0.4$$

Steps for Solving Linear Equation

Variable a cannot be equal to -1 since division by zero is not defined. Multiply both sides of the equation by a+1.

$$2-a=4\left(a+1\right)$$

Use the distributive property to multiply 4 by a+1.

$$2-a=4a+4$$

Subtract 4a from both sides.

$$2-a-4a=4$$

Combine -a and -4a to get -5a.

$$2-5a=4$$

Subtract 2 from both sides.

$$-5a=4-2$$

Subtract 2 from 4 to get 2.

$$-5a=2$$

Divide both sides by -5.

$$a=\frac{2}{-5}$$

Fraction \frac{2}{-5} can be rewritten as -\frac{2}{5} by extracting the negative sign.

$$a=-\frac{2}{5}$$