Solve a-5/a+5=4

$$\frac { a - 5 } { a + 5 } = 4$$

Solve for a

$$a = -\frac{25}{3} = -8\frac{1}{3} \approx -8.333333333$$

Steps for Solving Linear Equation

Variable a cannot be equal to -5 since division by zero is not defined. Multiply both sides of the equation by a+5.

$$a-5=4\left(a+5\right)$$

Use the distributive property to multiply 4 by a+5.

$$a-5=4a+20$$

Subtract 4a from both sides.

$$a-5-4a=20$$

Combine a and -4a to get -3a.

$$-3a-5=20$$

Add 5 to both sides.

$$-3a=20+5$$

Add 20 and 5 to get 25.

$$-3a=25$$

Divide both sides by -3.

$$a=\frac{25}{-3}$$

Fraction \frac{25}{-3} can be rewritten as -\frac{25}{3} by extracting the negative sign.

$$a=-\frac{25}{3}$$