Solve for a a-15=4a-3

$a - 15 = 4 a - 3$

Step 1

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

Subtract $4 a$ from both sides of the equation.

$a - 15 - 4 a = - 3$

Subtract $4 a$ from $a$ .

$- 3 a - 15 = - 3$

Step 2

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

Add $15$ to both sides of the equation.

$- 3 a = - 3 + 15$

Add $- 3$ and $15$ .

$- 3 a = 12$

Step 3

Divide each term in $- 3 a = 12$ by $- 3$ and simplify.

Divide each term in $- 3 a = 12$ by $- 3$ .

$\frac{- 3 a}{- 3} = \frac{12}{- 3}$

Simplify the left side.

Cancel the common factor of $- 3$ .

Cancel the common factor.

$\frac{- 3 a}{- 3} = \frac{12}{- 3}$

Divide $a$ by $1$ .

$a = \frac{12}{- 3}$

Simplify the right side.

Divide $12$ by $- 3$ .

$a = - 4$