Substituting $y=-2$ back into the first equation gives:
$-2 x+\square=-12$
Answer (1)
Represent the missing term with a variable c .
Rewrite the equation as − 2 x + c = − 12 .
Isolate c by adding 2 x to both sides: c = 2 x − 12 .
The missing term is 2 x − 12 .
Explanation
Understanding the Problem We are given the equation − 2 x + □ = − 12 and we need to find the expression that goes in the square. Let's call the missing expression c .
Isolating the Missing Term So the equation becomes − 2 x + c = − 12 . To find c , we need to isolate it on one side of the equation.
Solving for the Missing Term We can isolate c by adding 2 x to both sides of the equation: − 2 x + c + 2 x = − 12 + 2 x c = 2 x − 12
Final Answer Therefore, the missing term is 2 x − 12 .
Examples
In algebra, you often encounter equations with missing terms. This problem demonstrates how to isolate a variable to find the missing term. For example, if you know the total cost of an item and part of the cost is known, you can use this method to find the remaining cost. This is a fundamental skill in solving more complex algebraic problems.
