TOPIC DETAILS ON TRANSPOSITION OF FORMULAE

Topic: Algebra
Sub – Topic : Transposition of Formulae
Form : 4th Form
Duration: 120 minutes
Date: 23. 02. 2024
Keywords: Equations, Formula, Variable, Term, Expression, Subject
Objectives:
1.) Define the term formula as with regards to an equation and a relation
between variables.

2.) Identify the subject of a formula in various formats including

a) Single term one side of the formula
b) Term in the formula underscored
c) Isolated term in brackets

3.) Solve a linear equation for all terms in its construct.

4.) Change the subject of the formula by solving the formula (equation)
for the highlighted term.

5.) Change the subject of the formula including cases having squares and
roots along with simple factorization

Content:
Engage
To begin the lesson students may be given the following equations to solve
using the balanced method where applicable.
3
a) 2x + 4 = 6x b) + 4 = 15
𝑥

c) 4x – 4 = 2(x + 4) d) 3(2x + 4) = 4 (x – 3)
2(2𝑥+5) 3𝑥+4
e) 30 = f) 6x =
5𝑥+2 2𝑥+2
2.) Factorize the following expressions
a) 4xy + 2𝑥 2 𝑦 4
b) 12𝑎2 𝑥 2 + 4𝑎𝑥 + 9𝑎𝑥 + 3
Explore
It must be highlighted that for linear equations, the balanced method may be
used for isolating single terms on one side of the equation.
Solve the equation below for each unknown term on the R.H.S.
2𝑤+𝑎
K=
𝐸

1) For (E) 2) For (a)

2𝑤+𝑎 2𝑤+𝑎
K= K=
𝐸 𝐸

Multiply through by (E)……………………………..Multiply through by (E)

KE = 2w + a KE = 2w + a
2𝑤+𝑎
E = ans. KE – 2w = a ans.
𝐾

3.) For (w)

2𝑤+𝑎
K=
𝐸

KE = 2w + a
KE – a = 2w
𝐾𝐸−𝑎
= w ans.
2

It must be noted to students that

1.) The equation was solved using the balanced method technique to isolate the
desired term on one side of the equation.
2.) In case 3 it should be noted that only the (w) term was isolated without its
co – efficient 2.
Therefore the coefficient of the term being solved for is also affected by the
balanced method Operations.
3.) It should be noted that each term that was isolated, is equal to a
Mathematical combination of all the other terms in the equation.
CASE (Roots and Squares)
Solve the equation below for the unknown term x
Y = 2 √𝑥 + 4 This would be
Y – 4 = 2 √𝑥
𝑌−4
= √𝑥
2

To get x, we square both sides of the equation

𝑌−4 2 2
( 2
) = (√𝑥)

𝑌−4 2
( 2
) = x ans .

It must be highlighted that the square of any square rooted term results in the
term itself.

Definition
Formula
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, a formula is “A mathematical
relationship or rule expressed in symbols.”
If we examine the equation 2x – 5 = 10, the left hand side of the equation is
being related to the right hand side by use of an equal sign.
The equal sign defines the relation between the left hand side and the right hand
side, which means that the quantity expressed on the left hand side is equal to
the quantity on the right hand side for a unique value of x.
Therefore equations and formulas are quiet similar in the sense that terms are
related with an equal sign. As a result, methods used to solve equations or
simplify expressions may be used with Formulas as well.

Simply put, whenever a single term is expressed as a combination of terms

joined by various binary operators, the expression formed as a result is the
formula for the single term, while the single term is recognized as the subject.
E.g.
V = u + at

Subject Formula
If values were substituted for all terms in the formula, the subject would be
equal to the figure remaining after the formula is evaluated.
When changing the subject of a formula, the term that is required to become the
new subject, may be shown in the following ways.
If the ‘u’ is to be made the subject it may be highlighted :
1.) By Underscore
V = u + at
2.) By isolated term in a bracket
V = u + at (u.)
3.) By the statements
a) Make the term highlighted the subject of the formula
b) Given V = u + at, write ‘a’ in terms of V, u and t.
c) If there are only two unknown terms in the equation, then we may say
express one term in terms of the other. E.g Given P = 3x +2. We could say
express x in terms of P.
Students may be told that to change the subject of a formula, all they are
required to do is to solve the formula for the term to be made the subject.
Make the term highlighted, the subject of the formula.
𝑓𝑥
1. P = √ + 7 (f)
𝑔

𝑓𝑥
P–7= √
𝑔

2
2 𝑓𝑥
(𝑃 − 7) = (√ )
𝑔
 𝑓𝑥
(𝑃 − 7)2 =
𝑔

g (𝑃 − 7)2 = fx
g (𝑃−7)2
= f ans.
𝑥

𝑎+𝑞
2.) PR = (a)
𝑎+2

Notice that ‘a’ is in both numerator and denominator. Group the like terms
through the balanced method.
PR (a + 2) = a + q
aRP + 2PR = a + q
aRP - a = q – 2PR
Factorise the expression on the left hand side for ‘a.’
a( RP – 1 ) = q – 2PR
𝑞 − 2𝑃𝑅
a = ans.
𝑅𝑃−1

Exercise
Transpose the following for the variable highlighted
1
1.a) x = st + a𝑡 2 (a)
2
2𝑦
b) p = P + (r)
𝑟
𝑚𝑔
c) y = (b)
2(𝑎+𝑏)

d) M = √𝐾𝑊 + 5 (e)
𝑓−1
e) g = (f)
𝑓−2
𝑅
f.) n = (R)
𝑅+𝑟

5 − 3𝑚2
g.) p = √ (m)
𝑛
Further Thought
The transposition of formulae or changing the subject of the formula is a tool
used to express a term in a formula in terms of all the other terms in the
formula. This technique has far reaches in Physics, Chemistry and other Pure
applied and social Sciences.
Case
Let ‘S’ represent the displacement of a particle from one point to another, where
1
S = ut + a𝑡 2 and S = 80 m
2

u = initial velocity = 12 m𝑠 −1
a = acceleration
t = time taken = 6sec.
Determine the acceleration of the particle over the distance outlined.
Now
1
S = ut + a𝑡 2
2
1
S – ut = a𝑡 2
2

2( S - ut) = a𝑡 2
2( S − 𝑢𝑡)
= a
𝑡2

By substituting the values for the unknown in the formula

2( 80m –[12ms−1 × 6𝑠𝑒𝑐])
= a
(6 sec )2

2( 80𝑚−72𝑚)
= a
36𝑠𝑒𝑐 2
2×8𝑚
= a
36𝑠𝑒𝑐 2
16
m𝑠 −2 = a ans.
36
Evaluate
Transpose the following for the variable highlighted.
1
a) 𝑦 = (x) Graded
𝑎2 + 𝑥 2

−𝑏 + √𝑏2 − 4𝑎𝑐
b) 𝑥 = (c) Graded
2𝑎
1
c) y = (x)
√1− 𝑥 2
𝑥+ 𝑝
d) y = (x) Graded
𝑥 −𝑝
1 + 𝑎𝑡
e) m = (t)
1 − 𝑎𝑡
ℎ1
f) y = (ℎ2 )
ℎ1 − ℎ2

𝑘 2 + ℎ2
g) l = (ℎ2 )
𝑘ℎ2
𝑓−1
h) g = (f)
𝑓−2

𝐷 𝑓+𝑝
i) = √ (p)
𝑑 𝑓−𝑝

1 1 1
h) + = (f)
𝑣 𝑢 𝑓

5−3𝑚2
2.) Given P = √ , make ‘m’ the subject of the formula.
𝑛

3.) Transpose the formula P = 𝐼 2 R to make ‘I ’ the subject.

4a.) Make ‘a’ the subject of the formula 𝑣 2 = 𝑢2 + 2ax Graded

b) Given U = 0, v = 10 and x = 25, solve for ‘a.’