Isolating the variable is often the main goal when solving equations.
This means getting the variable alone on one side of the equation.
For instance, in the equation \(\frac{t}{8} = 0\), we want to isolate \((t)\).
To achieve this, follow these steps:
- Identify the operation affecting the variable (in this case, division by 8).
- Apply the opposite operation to both sides (multiplication by 8).
This makes the equation:
\[ t = 0 \]
Isolating the variable makes it easier to understand what value the variable holds.