You are asked to "SOLVE“ the following equation 5m + 4 - 2m = 4m - 9 + 3m + 1. Please identify your first step in solving this equation and then describe in detail how you would accomplish that
step. You are trying to show your work with words. You are not required to completely solve the equation.

Step-by-step explanation:

Well, you are asked for the first step, and it depends. But for this equation,

5m+4-2m=4m-9+3m+1

You have to subtract both sides by 3m, and subtract both sides by 4m. You also need to subtract both sides by 4.

Given:

Consider the below table attached with this question.

Every square meter of ceiling requires 10.75 tiles.

To find:

The missing values in the table.

Solution:

We have,

1 square meter of ceiling =  10.75 tiles.      ...(i)

Therefore, the number of tiles corresponding to 1 square meter of ceiling is 10.75.

Multiply both sides by 10.

10×1 square meter of ceiling =  10×10.75 tiles.

10 square meter of ceiling =  107.5 tiles.

Therefore, the number of tiles corresponding to 10 square meter of ceiling is 107.5.

Divide both sides by 10.75 in (i).

square meter of ceiling = 1 tile.

Multiply both sides by 100.

square meter of ceiling = 100 tiles.

On approximating the value, we get

9.3 square meter of ceiling = 100 tiles.

Therefore, the square meters of ceiling corresponding to 100 tiles is about 9.3.

Multiply both sides by a in (i).

a×1 square meter of ceiling =  a×10.75 tiles.

a square meter of ceiling =  10.75a tiles.

Therefore, the number of tiles corresponding to a square meter of ceiling is 10.75a.