Subtract 6 from both sides: 4 u = − 28 .
Divide both sides by 4: u = − 7 .
The solution to the equation is − 7 .
Explanation
Problem Analysis We are given the equation 6 + 4 u = − 22 and we want to solve for u .
Isolating the term with u First, we subtract 6 from both sides of the equation to isolate the term with u :
6 + 4 u − 6 = − 22 − 6 4 u = − 28
Solving for u Next, we divide both sides of the equation by 4 to solve for u :
4 4 u = 4 − 28 u = − 7
Final Answer Therefore, the solution is u = − 7 .
Examples
Imagine you are saving money. You start with $6, and every week you save an additional $4. After some weeks, you have a total of -$22 (you are in debt). The equation 6 + 4 u = − 22 helps you calculate how many weeks ( u ) it took to reach that debt. Solving this equation, we find that it took 7 weeks to accumulate a debt of $22.