Let's solve for a. p x = x 3 − 4 x 2 + a Step 1: Flip the equation. x 3 − 4 x 2 + a = p x Step 2: Add -x^3 to both sides. x 3 − 4 x 2 + a + − x 3 = p x + − x 3 − 4 x 2 + a = − x 3 + p x Step 3: Add 4x^2 to both sides. − 4 x 2 + a + 4 x 2 = − x 3 + p x + 4 x 2 a = − x 3 + p x + 4 x 2