Chapter 1: Problem 79
Evaluate each algebraic expression for the given value of the variable. $$\frac{6 y-4 y^{2}}{y^{2}-15} ; y=5$$
Short Answer
Expert verified
Upon evaluating the given algebraic expression for \(y = 5\), we find that it is equal to -7
Step by step solution
01
Substitution
Substitute \(y = 5\) into the given algebraic expression. This gives us: \[\frac{6 \times 5 - 4 \times 5^2}{5^2 - 15}\]
02
Simplify the numerator
Perform the multiplication, then the subtraction in the numerator: \[6 \times 5 - 4 \times 5^2 = 30 - 100 = -70\]. The expression now becomes: \[\frac{-70}{5^2 - 15}\]
03
Simplify the denominator
Perform the multiplication, then the subtraction in the denominator : \[5^2 - 15 = 25 - 15 = 10\]. This simplifies the expression to: \[\frac{-70}{10}\]
04
Divide
Finally, divide the numerator by the denominator to get the value of the expression: \[-70 / 10 = -7\].
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Substitution
Substitution is a fundamental process in algebra that allows us to replace a variable with a specific value. When dealing with algebraic expressions, it helps to effectively evaluate the expression and simplify it further. Let's break it down further using the original exercise.
- The original expression is: \(\frac{6y-4y^{2}}{y^{2}-15}\).
- Given \(y = 5\), substitution turns the expression into: \(\frac{6 \times 5 - 4 \times 5^2}{5^2 - 15}\).
- This means that wherever we see the variable \(y\), we replace it with the number 5.
Numerator and Denominator Simplification
Simplifying the numerator and the denominator of a fraction is essential in making the math cleaner and more manageable. In our example:
- The numerator \(6 \times 5 - 4 \times 5^2\) involves both multiplication and subtraction. It's simpler to first handle the multiplications: producing 30 and 100 respectively.
- Then, we subtract: \(30 - 100 = -70\). This provides us with the simplified numerator of \(-70\).
- The denominator \(5^2 - 15\) simplifies similarly: first calculating \(5^2 = 25\), and then performing the subtraction: \(25 - 15 = 10\).
Variable Evaluation
Evaluating a variable essentially means determining its contribution to the entire expression. In the given exercise, after substitution, each step builds on the previous to evaluate the impact of \(y = 5\):
- The effect of \(y\) on the expression is observed post substitution, where calculations are simplified to real numbers.
- Through simplifying the numerator and the denominator, the consequences of setting \(y = 5\) become clear and provide a pathway to the solution.
Division in Algebra
Division in algebra is a crucial step, especially after simplifying the numerator and the denominator of an expression. The aim is to find the simplest form of the expression by dividing these two results.
- After simplification, we are left with \(\frac{-70}{10}\).
- Perform the division: \(-70 / 10 = -7\).
- The division reduces the expression to a single number, making it easier to interpret the final result as \(-7\).