8

Transposition of formulae

8.1 Introduction to transposition of Problem 2. If a + b = w − x + y, express x as the subject.

formulae
When a symbol other than the subject is required to be calcu- Rearranging gives:
lated it is usual to rearrange the formula to make a new subject. w−x+y =a+b and −x =a+b−w−y
This rearranging process is called transposing the formula or
transposition. Multiplying both sides by −1 gives:
The rules used for transposition of formulae are the same as (−1)(−x) = (−1)(a + b − w − y)
those used for the solution of simple equations (see Chapter 7) —
basically, that the equality of an equation must be maintained. i.e. x = −a−b+w+y
The result of multiplying each side of the equation by −1 is to
change all the signs in the equation.
It is conventional to express answers with positive
8.2 Worked problems on transposition quantities first. Hence rather than x = −a − b + w + y,
of formulae x = w + y − a − b, since the order of terms connected by
+ and − signs is immaterial.

Problem 1. Transpose p = q + r + s to make r the subject.

Problem 3. Transpose v = f λ to make λ the subject.

The aim is to obtain r on its own on the left-hand side (LHS) of Rearranging gives: f λ = v
the equation. Changing the equation around so that r is on the
fλ v v
LHS gives: Dividing both sides by f gives: = , i.e. λ =
f f f
q+r+s=p (1)
Problem 4. When a body falls freely through a height h,
Subtracting (q + s) from both sides of the equation gives:
the velocity v is given by v 2 = 2gh. Express this formula
with h as the subject.
q + r + s − (q + s) = p − (q + s)
Thus q + r + s − q − s= p − q − s
Rearranging gives: 2gh = v 2
i.e. r= p−q−s (2)
2gh v 2 v2
Dividing both sides by 2g gives: = , i.e. h=
It is shown with simple equations, that a quantity can be moved 2g 2g 2g
from one side of an equation to the other with an appropriate
change of sign. Thus equation (2) follows immediately from V
Problem 5. If I = , rearrange to make V the subject.
equation (1) above. R
 Transposition of formulae 55

V Now try the following exercise

Rearranging gives: =I
R
Multiplying both sides by R gives:
! " Exercise 30 Further problems on transposition of
V formulae (Answers on page 273)
R = R(I )
R
Make the symbol indicated the subject of each of the
Hence V = IR
formulae shown and express each in its simplest form.

F 1. a + b = c − d − e (d)
Problem 6. Transpose a = for m
m 2. x + 3y = t (y)
3. c = 2π r (r)
F
Rearranging gives: = a 4. y = mx + c (x)
m
Multiplying both sides by m gives: 5. I = PRT (T)
! " E
F 6. I = (R)
m = m(a) i.e. F = ma R
m
a
7. S = (r)
Rearranging gives: ma = F 1−r
ma F 9
Dividing both sides by a gives: = 8. F = C + 32 (C)
a a 5
F
i.e. m=
a

Problem 7. Rearrange the formula R =

ρl
to make
8.3 Further worked problems on
(i) a the subject, and (ii) l the subject.
a transposition of formulae

ft
ρl Problem 8. Transpose the formula v = u + , to make f
(i) Rearranging gives: =R m
a the subject.
Multiplying both sides by a gives:
! "
ρl ft ft
a = a(R) i.e. ρl = aR Rearranging gives: u + = v and =v−u
a m m
Multiplying each side by m gives:
Rearranging gives: aR = ρl
! "
ft
Dividing both sides by R gives: m = m(v − u) i.e. ft = m(v − u)
m
aR ρl
=
R R Dividing both sides by t gives:
ρl
i.e. a= ft m m
R = (v − u) i.e. f = (v − u)
ρl t t t
(ii) =R
a
Multiplying both sides by a gives:
Problem 9. The final length, l2 of a piece of wire heated
ρl = aR
through θ ◦ C is given by the formula l2 = l1 (1 + αθ). Make
Dividing both sides by ρ gives: the coefficient of expansion, α, the subject.
ρl aR
=
ρ ρ Rearranging gives: l1 (1 + αθ) = l2
aR
i.e. l= Removing the bracket gives: l1 + l1 αθ = l2
ρ
Rearranging gives: l1 αθ = l2 − l1
56 Basic Engineering Mathematics

Dividing both sides by l1 θ gives: #

l
l1 αθ l2 − l1 l2 − l 1 Problem 13. Given t = 2π , find g in terms of t, l and π .
= i.e. α = g
l1 θ l1 θ l1 θ

Whenever the prospective new subject is within a square root

Problem 10. A formula for the distance moved by a body sign, it is best to isolate that term on the LHS and then to square
is given by s = 12 (v + u)t. Rearrange the formula to make u both sides of the equation.
the subject. #
l
Rearranging gives: 2π =t
1 g
Rearranging gives: (v + u)t = s #
2 l t
Multiplying both sides by 2 gives: (v + u)t = 2s Dividing both sides by 2π gives: =
g 2π
(v + u)t 2s ! "2
Dividing both sides by t gives: = l t t2
t t Squaring both sides gives: = =
2s g 2π 4π 2
i.e. v+u =
t Cross-multiplying, i.e. multiplying each term by 4π 2 g, gives:
2s 2s − υt
Hence u= − υ or u = 4π 2 l = gt 2
t t
or gt 2 = 4π 2 l
gt 2 4π 2 l
Problem 11. A formula for kinetic energy is k = 12 mv 2 . Dividing both sides by t 2 gives: 2
= 2
Transpose the formula to make v the subject. t t
4π 2 l
i.e. g= 2
t
Rearranging gives: 12 mv 2 = k
Whenever the prospective new subject is a squared term, that √ 14. The impedance of an a.c. circuit is given by
Problem
term is isolated on the LHS, and then the square root of both Z = R2 + X 2 . Make the reactance, X , the subject.
sides of the equation is taken.
√
Multiplying both sides by 2 gives: mv 2 = 2k Rearranging gives: R2 + X 2 = Z
mv 2 2k Squaring both sides gives: R2 + X 2 = Z 2
Dividing both sides by m gives: =
m m Rearranging gives: X 2 = Z 2 − R2
2 2k
i.e. v = Taking the square root of both sides gives:
m
√
Taking the square root of both sides gives: X = Z 2 − R2
#! "
√ 2k
2
v =
m Problem 15. The volume V of a hemisphere is given by
#! " V = 23 π r 3 . Find r in terms of V .
2k
i.e. v=
m 2 3
Rearranging gives: πr = V
3
Problem 12. In a right angled triangle having sides x, y Multiplying both sides by 3 gives: 2π r 3 = 3V
and hypotenuse z, Pythagoras’ theorem states z 2 = x2 + y2 .
Dividing both sides by 2π gives:
Transpose the formula to find x.
2π r 3 3V 3V
= i.e. r3 =
Rearranging gives: x2 + y2 = z 2 2π 2π 2π
and x2 = z 2 − y2 Taking the cube root of both sides gives:
Taking the square root of both sides gives: #! " #! "
√
3 3V 3V
$ r3 = 3 i.e. r = 3
x = z 2 − y2 2π 2π
 Transposition of formulae 57

Now try the following exercise Dividing both sides by (x + y) gives:

a2 (x + y) rp rp
Exercise 31 Further problems on transposition of = i.e. a2 =
(x + y) (x + y) (x + y)
formulae (Answers on page 273)
Taking the square root of both sides gives:
Make the symbol indicated the subject of each of the
#! "
formulae shown and express each in its simplest form. rp
λ(x − d) a=
1. y = (x) x+y
d
3(F − f ) Problem 17. Make b the subject of the formula
2. A = (f)
L x−y
a= √
Ml 2 bd + be
3. y = (E)
8EI
x−y
4. R = R0 (1 + αt) (t) Rearranging gives: √ =a
bd + be
1 1 1 √
5. = + (R2 ) Multiplying both sides by bd + be gives:
R R1 R2
√
E−e x − y = a bd + be
6. I = (R) √
R+r or a bd + be = x − y
7. y = 4ab2 c2 (b) √ x−y
Dividing both sides by a gives: bd + be =
2 2 a
a b
8. + =1 (x) ! "
x2 y2 x−y 2
Squaring both sides gives: bd + be =
# a
l ! "
9. t = 2π (l) x−y 2
g Factorizing the LHS gives: b(d + e) =
a
10. v 2 = u2 + 2as (u) ! "
x−y 2
π R2 θ a
11. A = (R) Dividing both sides by (d + e) gives: b=
360 (d + e)
#! "
a+x (x − y)2
12. N = (a) i.e. b=
y a2 (d + e)
$
13. Z = R2 + (2π f L)2 (L) Problem 18. If cd = 3d + e − ad, express d in terms
of a, c and e

8.4 Harder worked problems on Rearranging to obtain the terms in d on the LHS gives:
transposition of formulae cd − 3d + ad = e

Factorizing the LHS gives:

a2 x + a2 y d(c − 3 + a) = e
Problem 16. Transpose the formula p = to
r Dividing both sides by (c − 3 + a) gives:
make a the subject.
e
d=
c−3+a
a2 x + a2 y
Rearranging gives: =p
r
b
Multiplying both sides by r gives: a2 x + a2 y = rp Problem 19. If a = , make b the subject of the
1+b
formula.
Factorizing the LHS gives: a2 (x + y) = rp
58 Basic Engineering Mathematics

b Dividing both sides by ( p − y − t) gives:

Rearranging gives: =a
1+b
r( y + t)
Multiplying both sides by (1 + b) gives: b = a(1 + b) q2 =
( p − y − t)
Removing the bracket gives: b = a + ab Taking the square root of both sides gives:
!" #
Rearranging to obtain terms in b on the LHS gives: r( y + t)
q=
p−y−t
b − ab = a

Factorizing the LHS gives: b(1 − a) = a !" #

D f +p
a Problem 22. Given that = , express p in
Dividing both sides by (1 − a) gives: b= d f −p
1−a
terms of D, d and f .

!" #
Er f +p D
Problem 20. Transpose the formula V = to make r Rearranging gives: =
R+r f −p d
the subject.
" #
f +p D2
Squaring both sides gives: = 2
f −p d
Er
Rearranging gives: =V Cross-multiplying, i.e. multiplying each term by d 2 ( f − p),
R+r
Multiplying both sides by (R + r) gives: Er = V (R + r) gives: d 2 ( f + p) = D2 ( f − p)
Removing the bracket gives: Er = VR + Vr Removing brackets gives: d 2 f + d 2 p = D2 f − D2 p

Rearranging to obtain terms in r on the LHS gives: Rearranging, to obtain terms in p on the LHS gives:
Er − Vr = VR d 2 p + D2 p = D2 f − d 2 f
Factorizing gives: r(E − V ) = VR Factorizing gives: p(d 2 + D2 ) = f (D2 − d 2 )
VR f (D2 − d 2 )
Dividing both sides by (E − V ) gives: r= Dividing both sides by (d 2 + D2 ) gives: p=
E−V (d 2 − D2 )

pq2 Now try the following exercise

Problem 21. Transpose the formula y = −t
r + q2
to make q the subject Exercise 32 Further problems on transposition of
formulae (Answers on page 274)
Make the symbol indicated the subject of each of the for-
pq2 mulae shown in Problems 1 to 7, and express each in its
Rearranging gives: −t = y
r + q2 simplest form.
pq2 a2 m − a2 n
and = y+t 1. y = (a)
r + q2 x
Multiplying both sides by (r + q2 ) gives:
pq2 = (r + q2 )( y + t) 2. M = π (R4 − r 4 ) (R)
r
Removing brackets gives: pq2 = ry + rt + q2 y + q2 t 3. x + y = (r)
3+r
Rearranging to obtain terms in q on the LHS gives:
µL
4. m = (L)
pq2 − q2 y − q2 t = ry + rt L + rCR

Factorizing gives: q2 ( p − y − t) = r( y + t) b2 − c 2
5. a2 = (b)
b2
 Transposition of formulae 59

x 1 + r2
6. =
y 1 − r2
(r) Assignment 4
!" #
p a + 2b
7. = (b) This assignment covers the material contained in Chap-
q a − 2b ters 7 and 8. The marks for each question are shown in
brackets at the end of each question.
8. A formula for the focal length, f , of a convex lens is
1 1 1
= + . Transpose the formula to make v the subject
f u v 1. Solve the following equations:
and evaluate v when f = 5 and u = 6.
(a) 3t − 2 = 5t − 4
9. The quantity of heat, Q, is given by the formula
Q = mc(t2 − t1 ). Make t2 the subject of the formula and (b) 4(k − 1) − 2(3k + 2) + 14 = 0
evaluate t2 when m = 10, t1 = 15, c = 4 and Q = 1600. a 2a
(c) − =1
2 5
10. The velocity, v, of water in a pipe appears in the formula √
(d) 3 y = 2
0.03Lv 2 !"
h= . Express v as the subject of the formula #
2dg s+1
and evaluate v when h = 0.712, L = 150, d = 0.30 and (e) =2 (20)
s−1
g = 9.81.
2. Distance s = ut + 12 at 2 . Find the value of acceleration a
11. The !
sag S at the centre of a wire is given by the formula: when s = 17.5, time t = 2.5 and u = 10 (4)
" #
3d(l − d)
S= . Make l the subject of the formula 3. A rectangular football pitch has its length equal to twice
8 its width and a perimeter of 360 m. Find its length and
and evaluate l when d = 1.75 and S = 0.80. width. (4)

12. In an electrical alternating current circuit the impedance 4. Transpose the following equations:
! " #
$ 1 2%
Z is given by: Z = R2 + ωL − . (a) y = mx + c for m
ωC 2(y − z)
(b) x = for z
t
Transpose the formula to make C the subject and
1 1 1
hence evaluate C when Z = 130, R = 120, ω = 314 and (c) = + for RA
L = 0.32 RT RA R B
(d) x2 − y2 = 3ab for y
13. An approximate relationship between the number of p−q
teeth, T , on a milling cutter, the diameter of cutter, D, (e) K = for q (18)
1 + pq
12.5D
and the depth of cut, d, is given by: T =
D + 4d 5. The passage of sound waves through walls is governed
Determine the value of D when T = 10 and d = 4 mm. by the equation:
!
14. Make λ, the wavelength of X-rays, the subject of the K + 43 G
following formula: v=
ρ
√
µ CZ 4 λ5 n Make the shear modulus G the subject of the
=
ρ a formula. (4)