Solve for a 6-5a=a-17

$6 - 5 a = a - 17$

Step 1

Move all terms containing $a$ to the left side of the equation.

Subtract $a$ from both sides of the equation.

$6 - 5 a - a = - 17$

Subtract $a$ from $- 5 a$ .

$6 - 6 a = - 17$

Step 2

Move all terms not containing $a$ to the right side of the equation.

Subtract $6$ from both sides of the equation.

$- 6 a = - 17 - 6$

Subtract $6$ from $- 17$ .

$- 6 a = - 23$

Step 3

Divide each term in $- 6 a = - 23$ by $- 6$ and simplify.

Divide each term in $- 6 a = - 23$ by $- 6$ .

$\frac{- 6 a}{- 6} = \frac{- 23}{- 6}$

Simplify the left side.

Cancel the common factor of $- 6$ .

Cancel the common factor.

$\frac{- 6 a}{- 6} = \frac{- 23}{- 6}$

Divide $a$ by $1$ .

$a = \frac{- 23}{- 6}$

Simplify the right side.

Dividing two negative values results in a positive value.

$a = \frac{23}{6}$

Step 4

The result can be shown in multiple forms.

Exact Form:

$a = \frac{23}{6}$

Decimal Form:

$a = 3.8\overline{3}$

Mixed Number Form:

$a = 3 \frac{5}{6}$