# How would you rearrange the following equation?

• March 13th 2010, 11:31 PM
Liparulo
How would you rearrange the following equation?
0 = PR^n - Q(R^n)-1)/R-1

It needs to equal P. It's part of a modeling and problem solving question, I'm right with everything after the rearranging. Thank you.
• March 13th 2010, 11:55 PM
earboth
Quote:

Originally Posted by Liparulo
0 = PR^n - Q(R^n)-1)/R-1

It needs to equal P. It's part of a modeling and problem solving question, I'm right with everything after the rearranging. Thank you.

Do you mean: $0=\dfrac{PR^n-Q(R^n)-1}{R-1}$

or: $0=\dfrac{PR^n-QR^{n-1}}{R-1}$

or: $0=PR^n - \dfrac{QR^n-1}{R-1}$

or: $0=PR^n - \dfrac{QR^{n-1}}{R-1}$
• March 14th 2010, 01:49 AM
Liparulo
Quote:

Originally Posted by earboth

or: $0=PR^n - \dfrac{QR^n-1}{R-1}$

This one. Sorry, I know it's a basic question and I should be able to do it, but I'm just not clicking at the moment.
• March 14th 2010, 03:24 AM
earboth
Quote:

Originally Posted by Liparulo
This one. Sorry, I know it's a basic question and I should be able to do it, but I'm just not clicking at the moment.

1. Move the quotient to the other side of the equation:

$
PR^n = \dfrac{QR^n-1}{R-1}$

and then divide by $R^n$

$
P = \dfrac{QR^n-1}{R^n(R-1)}
$
• March 17th 2010, 02:55 AM
Liparulo
Thank you very much. I knew it was simple algebra that was holding me back.