Solve 15-a=1/3a-1

$$15 - a = \frac { 1 } { 3 } a - 1$$

Solve for a

$$a=12$$

Steps for Solving Linear Equation

Subtract \frac{1}{3}a from both sides.

$$15-a-\frac{1}{3}a=-1$$

Combine -a and -\frac{1}{3}a to get -\frac{4}{3}a.

$$15-\frac{4}{3}a=-1$$

Subtract 15 from both sides.

$$-\frac{4}{3}a=-1-15$$

Subtract 15 from -1 to get -16.

$$-\frac{4}{3}a=-16$$

Multiply both sides by -\frac{3}{4}, the reciprocal of -\frac{4}{3}.

$$a=-16\left(-\frac{3}{4}\right)$$

Express -16\left(-\frac{3}{4}\right) as a single fraction.

$$a=\frac{-16\left(-3\right)}{4}$$

Multiply -16 and -3 to get 48.

$$a=\frac{48}{4}$$

Divide 48 by 4 to get 12.

$$a=12$$