Substitute values into formulas to determine an unknown and re-arrange formulas to solve for a particular term (VCMNA333)
LO: To rearrange formulas to solve for a particular term
Know:
- What is a term
- What is a formula
- How to rearrange formulas to isolate a particular term
- Inverse operations
Understand:
- That formulas can be rearranged to isolate a particular term
Do:
- I can rearrange formulas to isolate a particular term
What is a Formula?


A formula is essentially an equation which shows a relationship between variables.
For example, we have a formula to find the area of a rectangle. A = L x W. The area of a rectangle is dependent on the length of the rectangle and the width of the rectangle. As the length or width of the triangle changes, so does the area of the rectangle.
A formula always has more than one variable.
What is the subject of the formula?

The subject of a formula is the variable that is isolated (by itself) when compared to the other variables.
In this case, “v” is the subject of the formula because it is isolated from the rest of the variable.

In the second scenario, “m” is the current subject of the formula because it is isolated from the rest of the variables.
In many scenarios, you will need to rearrange the formula in order to make another variable the subject.
This question wants you to make “e” the subject rather than m.
Changing the Subject
