Solve x+ay=42

$$x + a y = 42$$

Solve for a (complex solution)

$$\left\{\begin{matrix}a=-\frac{x-42}{y}\text{, }&y\neq 0\\a\in \mathrm{C}\text{, }&x=42\text{ and }y=0\end{matrix}\right.$$

Steps for Solving Linear Equation

Subtract x from both sides.

$$ay=42-x$$

The equation is in standard form.

$$ya=42-x$$

Divide both sides by y.

$$\frac{ya}{y}=\frac{42-x}{y}$$

Dividing by y undoes the multiplication by y.

$$a=\frac{42-x}{y}$$

Solve for a

$$\left\{\begin{matrix}a=-\frac{x-42}{y}\text{, }&y\neq 0\\a\in \mathrm{R}\text{, }&x=42\text{ and }y=0\end{matrix}\right.$$

Steps for Solving Linear Equation

Subtract x from both sides.

$$ay=42-x$$

The equation is in standard form.

$$ya=42-x$$

Divide both sides by y.

$$\frac{ya}{y}=\frac{42-x}{y}$$

Dividing by y undoes the multiplication by y.

$$a=\frac{42-x}{y}$$

Solve for x

$$x=42-ay$$

Solution Steps

Subtract ay from both sides.

$$x=42-ay$$