SECTION 1.
6
Transposition of formulae
Objectives
At the end of this section you should be able to:
z Manipulate formulae.
z Draw a flow chart representing a formula.
z Use a reverse flow chart to transpose a formula.
z Change the subject of a formula involving several letters.
Mathematical modelling involves the use of formulae to represent the relationship between
economic variables. In microeconomics we have already seen how useful supply and demand
formulae are. These provide a precise relationship between price and quantity. For example,
the connection between price, P, and quantity, Q, might be modelled by
P = −4Q + 100
Given any value of Q it is trivial to deduce the corresponding value of P by merely replacing
the symbol Q by a number. A value of Q = 2, say, gives
P = −4 × 2 + 100
= −8 + 100
= 92
On the other hand, given P, it is necessary to solve an equation to deduce Q. For example,
when P = 40, the equation is
−4Q + 100 = 40
which can be solved as follows:
−4Q = −60 (subtract 100 from both sides)
Q = 15 (divide both sides by −4)
This approach is reasonable when only one or two values of P are given. However, if we are
given many values of P, it is clearly tedious and ineicient for us to solve the equation each
time to find Q. The preferred approach is to transpose the formula for P. In other words,
we rearrange the formula
P = an expression involving Q
into
Q = an expression involving P
Written this way round, the formula enables us to find Q by replacing P by a number. For the
specific formula
−4Q + 100 = P
SECTION 1.6 TRANSPOSITION OF FORMULAE 85
the steps are
− 4Q = P − 100 (subtract 100 from both sides)
P − 100
Q= (divide both sides by − 4)
−4
Notice that
P − 100 P 100
= −
−4 −4 −4
= − 1 4 P + 25
so the rearranged formula simplifies to
Q = −1/4 P + 25
If we now wish to find Q when P = 40, we immediately get
Q = −1/4 × 40 + 25
= −10 + 25
= 15
The important thing to notice about the algebra is that the individual steps are identical to
those used previously for solving the equation
−4Q + 100 = 40
i.e. the operations are again
‘subtract 100 from both sides’
followed by
‘divide both sides by −4’
Practice Problem
1. (a) Solve the equation
1
/2 Q + 13 = 17
State clearly exactly what operation you have performed to both sides at each stage
of your solution.
(b) By performing the same operations as part (a), rearrange the formula
1
/2 Q + 13 = P
into the form
Q = an expression involving P
(c) By substituting P = 17 into the formula derived in part (b), check that this agrees
with your answer to part (a).
86 CHAPTER 1 LINEAR EQUATIONS
In general, there are two issues concerning formula transposition. Firstly, we need to
decide what to do to both sides of the given formula and the order in which they should be
performed. Secondly, we need to carry out these steps accurately. The first of these is often
the more diicult. However, there is a logical strategy that can be used to help. To illustrate
this, consider the task of making Q the subject of
P = 1/3 Q + 5
that is, of rearranging this formula into the form
Q = an expression involving P
Imagine starting with a value of Q and using a calculator to work out P from
P = 1/3 Q + 5
The diagram below shows that two operations are required and indicates the order in which
they must be done. This diagram is called a flow chart.
To go backwards from P to Q we need to undo these operations. Now the reverse of ‘divide
by 3’ is ‘multiply by 3’ and the reverse of ‘add 5’ is ‘subtract 5’, so the operations needed to
transpose the formula are as follows:
This diagram is called a reverse flow chart. The process is similar to that of unwrapping
a parcel (or peeling an onion); you start by unwrapping the outer layer first and work
inwards. If we now actually perform these steps in the order specified by the reverse flow
chart, we get
1
/3 Q + 5 = P
1
/3 Q =P−5 (subtract 5 from both sides)
Q = 3(P − 5) (multiply both sides by 3)
The rearranged formula can be simplified by multiplying out the brackets to give
Q = 3P − 15
Incidentally, if you prefer, you can actually use the reverse flow chart itself to perform the
algebra for you. All you have to do is to pass the letter P through the reverse flow chart.
Working from right to left gives
Notice that taking P as the input to the box ‘subtract 5’ gives the output P − 5, and if the
whole of this is taken as the input to the box ‘multiply by 3’, the final output is the answer,
3(P − 5). Hence
Q = 3(P − 5)
SECTION 1.6 TRANSPOSITION OF FORMULAE 87
Example
Make x the subject of
x 4
(a) y = (b) y =
5 2x + 1
Solution
(a) To go from x to y the operations are
so the steps needed to transpose the formula are
The algebraic details are as follows:
x
=y
5
x
= y2 (square both sides)
5
x = 5y2 (multiply both side by 5)
Hence the transposed formula is
x = 5y2
Alternatively, if you prefer, the reverse flow chart can be used directly to obtain
Hence
x = 5y2
(b) The forwards flow chart is
so the reverse flow chart is
➜
88 CHAPTER 1 LINEAR EQUATIONS
The algebraic details are as follows:
4
=y
2x + 1
1 y
= (divide both sides by 4)
2x + 1 4
4
2x + 1 = (rreciprocate both sides)
y
4
2x = −1 (subtract 1from both sides)
y
1 ⎛4 ⎞
= −1 (divide both sides by 2)
2 ⎜⎝ y ⎟⎠
which can be simplified, by multiplying out the brackets, to give
2 1
x= −
y 2
Again, the reverse flow chart can be used directly to obtain
Practice Problem
2. Use flow charts to make x the subject of the following formulae:
1
(a) y = 6x2 (b) y =
7x − 1
The following example contains two diicult instances of transposition. In both cases the
letter x appears more than once on the right-hand side. If this happens, the technique based
on flow charts cannot be used. However, it may still be possible to perform the manipulation
even if some of the steps may not be immediately obvious.
Example
Transpose the following formulae to express x in terms of y:
x +1
(a) ax = bx + cy + d (b) y =
x−2
Solution
(a) In the formula
ax = bx + cy + d
SECTION 1.6 TRANSPOSITION OF FORMULAE 89
there are terms involving x on both sides and since we are hoping to rearrange this into
the form
x = an expression involving y
it makes sense to collect the xs on the left-hand side. To do this we subtract bx from
both sides to get
ax − bx = cy + d
Notice that x is a common factor of the left-hand side, so the distributive law can be
applied ‘in reverse’ to take the x outside the brackets: that is,
(a – b)x = cy + d
Finally, both sides are divided by a − b to get
cy + d
x=
a−b
which is of the desired form.
(b) It is diicult to see where to begin with the formula
x +1
y=
x−2
because there is an x in both the numerator and the denominator. Indeed, the thing that
is preventing us getting started is precisely the fact that the expression is a fraction. We
can, however, remove the fraction simply by multiplying both sides by the denominator
to get
(x − 2)y = x + 1
and if we multiply out the brackets then
xy − 2y = x + 1
We want to rearrange this into the form
x = an expression involving y
so we collect the xs on the left-hand side and put everything else on to the right-hand
side. To do this we first add 2y to both sides to get
xy = x + 1 + 2y
and then subtract x from both sides to get
xy − x = 1 + 2y
The distributive law can now be applied ‘in reverse’ to take out the common factor of
x: that is,
( y − 1)x = 1 + 2y
Finally, dividing through by y − 1 gives
1 + 2y
x=
y −1
90 CHAPTER 1 LINEAR EQUATIONS
Advice
This example contains some of the hardest algebraic manipulation seen so far in this book. I hope
that you managed to follow the individual steps. However, it all might appear as if we have ‘pulled
rabbits out of hats’. You may feel that, if left on your own, you are never going to be able to decide
what to do at each stage. Unfortunately there is no watertight strategy that always works, although
the following five-point plan is worth considering if you get stuck.
To transpose a given formula of the form
y = an expression involving x
into a formula of the form
x = an expression involving y
you proceed as follows:
Step 1 Remove fractions.
Step 2 Multiply out the brackets.
Step 3 Collect all of the x’s on to the left-hand side.
Step 4 Take out a factor of x.
Step 5 Divide by the coefficient of x.
You might find it helpful to look back at the previous example in the light of this strategy. In part (b)
it is easy to identify each of the five steps. Part (a) also used this strategy, starting with the third step.
Example
Make x the subject of
ax + b
y=
cx + d
Solution
In this formula there is a square root symbol surrounding the right-hand side. This can be
removed by squaring both sides to get
ax + b
y2 =
cx + d
We now apply the five-step strategy:
Step 1 (cx + d )y2 = ax + b
Step 2 cxy2 + dy2 = ax + b
Step 3 cxy2 − ax = b − dy2
Step 4 (cy2 − a)x = b − dy2
b − dy 2
Step 5 x=
cy 2 − a
SECTION 1.6 TRANSPOSITION OF FORMULAE 91
Practice Problem
3. Transpose the following formulae to express x in terms of y:
(a) x – ay = cx + y
x−2
(b) y =
x+4
Key Terms
Flow chart A diagram consisting of boxes of instructions indicating a sequence of operations and
their order.
Reverse flow chart A flow chart indicating the inverse of the original sequence of operations in
reverse order.
Transpose a formula The rearrangement of a formula to make one of the other letters the subject.
Exercise 1.6
1. Make Q the subject of
P = 2Q + 8
Hence find the value of Q when P = 52.
2. Write down the formula representing each of the following flow charts
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
3. Draw flow charts for each of the following formulae:
(a) y = 5x + 3 (b) y = 5(x + 3) (c) y = 6x – 9 (d) y = 4x2 – 6
x 2 1
(e) y = +7 (f) y = (g) y =
2 x x+3
4. Make x the subject of each of the following formulae:
x
(a) y = 9x – 6 (b) y = (x + 4)/3 (c) y =
2
x 1 4
(d) y = +8 (e) y = (f) y =
5 x+2 3x − 7
➜
92 CHAPTER 1 LINEAR EQUATIONS
5. Transpose the formulae:
(a) Q = aP + b to express P in terms of Q
(b) Y = aY + b + I to express Y in terms of I
1
(c) Q = to express P in terms of Q
aP + b
6. Make x the subject of the formula
3
y= −2
x
2 DR
7. In business, the economic order quantity is Q = .
H
(a) Make D the subject of this formula.
(b) Make H the subject of this formula.
Exercise 1.6*
1. (1) Draw flow charts for each of the following formulae:
(a) y = 9x + 1 (b) y = 3 – x (c) y = 5x2 – 8
4
(d) y = (3x + 5) (e) y = 2
x +8
(2) Hence, or otherwise, express x in terms of y in each case.
2. Make x the subject of the following formulae:
a c b+x
(a) +b= (b) a − x = (c) e + x + f = g
x x a
⎛ x − n ⎞ a2 x−m 1 x +a b
(d) a ⎜ = (e) = (f) =
⎝ m ⎟⎠ b n m x −b a
3. Transpose the formula
5t + 1
V=
t −1
to express t in terms of V.
Hence, or otherwise, find the value of t when V = 5.6.
4. Make r the subject of the formula
n
⎛ r ⎞
S = P ⎜1 +
⎝ 100 ⎟⎠
5. Rearrange the formula
− aT + b + I + G
Y=
1 − a + at
to make each of the following letters the subject:
(a) G (b) T (c) t (d) a
