Evaluation of Subject by Substitution

After learning about the subject of an equation, let us move to the next topic of the discussion, i.e., evaluation of formula by substitution. Under this topic we’ll learn how to evaluate a particular formula using the known quantities of an equation. It is similar to solving linear equations in one variable. Here, we will substitute the known quantities of an equation into the formula and then try to solve for the unknown quantity.

For evaluating a formula by substitution, you only need to follow some basic concepts:

I. With the help of given hints about known and unknown quantities of the formula, find out the subject of the formula.

II. If the applied formula is directly in the form of an equation where subject is on one side of the equation and rest known quantities are on another side of the equation, then directly substitute the known values in the formula and find out the value of the unknown quantity.

III. If the applied formula is not in the form where the subject of the formula is on one side of the equation while rest known quantities are on another side, then bring the equation in such a form where known quantities are on one side and unknown quantity on another side. This can be done using simple mathematical operators such as addition, subtraction, multiplication and division as explained in the previous topic of this unit.

IV. After the conversion of formula in the above mentioned form, just substitute the values of the known quantities into the equation so formed and get the value of the unknown quantity.

To get the better view of above explained concept let us solve some examples based upon this.

1. Find the area of a right-angled triangle if the length of base and hypotenuse are 15 cm and 12 cm respectively.

Solution:

The formula for the area of a right -angled triangle with known base and hypotenuse is given by:

A = ½ base x height

As formula already has known quantities on one side of the equation and unknown on another side, so all we need is to substitute the known values into the formula.

Since, base = 15 cm

Height = 12 cm

On substituting these values in above formula:

A = ½ x 15 x 12 cm2

A = 90 cm2

2. Find the breadth of a rectangular plot whose length is 20 m and area is 120 cm2.

Solution:

The formula for the area rectangular plot is given by:

Since, above formula is not in the appropriate order, so we need to change the subject of the formula.

Since, length = 20 m

Area = 120 m2

On substituting these values in the above formula:

= 6 m

In similar way, other formulae can be evaluated by substitution.

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