1/a + 1/b = 1/2 for a Subtract 1/b from each side to solve this literal equation: 1/a + 1/b - 1/b = 1/2 - 1/b Cancel the 1/b on the left side, we get: 1/a = 1/2 - 1/b Rewrite the right side, using 2b as a common denominator: 1/a = (b - 2)/2b Cross multiply: a(b - 2) = 2b Divide each side by (b - 2) a = 2b/(b - 2)
