Question

solve the equation \\(\frac{m}{2} + 9 = 12\\). how can you isolate the expression \\(\frac{m}{2}\\)? \\(\frac{m}{2} + 9 = 12\\) ? ? on both sides.

Explanation:

Step1: Identify the operation to isolate $\frac{m}{2}$

To isolate $\frac{m}{2}$ in the equation $\frac{m}{2}+9 = 12$, we need to get rid of the $+9$ on the left - hand side. According to the subtraction property of equality, if we subtract 9 from both sides of the equation, the equality will still hold.
So we perform the operation: Subtract 9 from both sides.
Mathematically, we have $\frac{m}{2}+9 - 9=12 - 9$.
Simplifying the left - hand side, $9 - 9 = 0$, so we are left with $\frac{m}{2}=12 - 9$.
Simplifying the right - hand side, $12-9 = 3$, so $\frac{m}{2}=3$.
But for the first part of isolating $\frac{m}{2}$, the operation is to subtract 9 from both sides.

Step2: Solve for m (optional, but to complete the equation solving)

Now that we have $\frac{m}{2}=3$, we can solve for $m$ by multiplying both sides of the equation by 2.
Using the multiplication property of equality, $2\times\frac{m}{2}=3\times2$.
Simplifying the left - hand side, $2\times\frac{m}{2}=m$, and the right - hand side is $6$. So $m = 6$. But the main question here is about isolating $\frac{m}{2}$, so the key operation is subtracting 9.

Answer:

To isolate the expression $\frac{m}{2}$ from the equation $\frac{m}{2}+9 = 12$, we should subtract 9 on both sides.