Solve for B in the Equation: b + 6 = 14

Q: Why do I subtract 6 instead of adding it?

Since we have +6 with the variable, we use the opposite operation (subtraction) to cancel it out. Think of it as undoing what was done to the variable.

Q: What if I accidentally add 6 to both sides instead?

You'll get $ b + 12 = 20 $, which makes the problem harder! Always use the inverse operation to eliminate terms next to your variable.

Q: How do I know which number to subtract?

Look at what's being added to your variable. In $ b + 6 = 14 $, we have +6, so subtract 6 from both sides to isolate b.

Q: Do I always subtract when solving these equations?

No! If you had $ b - 6 = 14 $, you'd add 6 to both sides. Always do the opposite of what you see in the equation.

Linear Equations with Subtraction Method

Solve for B:

$b+6=14$

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Step-by-step written solution

Follow each step carefully to understand the complete solution

Understand the problem

Solve for B:

$b+6=14$

Step-by-step solution

To solve for $b$ , we need to isolate it on one side of the equation. Starting with:

$b+6=14$

Subtract $6$ from both sides to get:

$b+6-6=14-6$

This simplifies to:

$b=8$

Therefore, the solution is $b = 8$ .

Final Answer

$8$

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic

Inverse Operations: Use opposite operations to isolate the variable
Technique: Subtract 6 from both sides: 14 - 6 = 8
Check: Substitute back: 8 + 6 = 14 ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors

Subtracting from only one side of the equation
Don't subtract 6 from just the left side = $b = 14$ ! This breaks the balance of the equation and gives the wrong answer. Always perform the same operation on both sides to maintain equality.

Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge with interactive questions

$$ x+7=14 $$

$x=\text{?}$

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

Why do I subtract 6 instead of adding it?

Since we have +6 with the variable, we use the opposite operation (subtraction) to cancel it out. Think of it as undoing what was done to the variable.

What if I accidentally add 6 to both sides instead?

You'll get $b + 12 = 20$ , which makes the problem harder! Always use the inverse operation to eliminate terms next to your variable.

How do I know which number to subtract?

Look at what's being added to your variable. In $b + 6 = 14$ , we have +6, so subtract 6 from both sides to isolate b.

Do I always subtract when solving these equations?

No! If you had $b - 6 = 14$ , you'd add 6 to both sides. Always do the opposite of what you see in the equation.

What does 'isolate the variable' mean?

It means getting the variable (b) by itself on one side of the equation. You want $b = \text{some number}$ as your final answer.

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