A logical sequence of statements

In an algebraic sentence, the verb is typically the equal sign = .

ax b + c = d.
That sentence
that statement
will logically imply other statements. Let u
s follow the logical sequence that leads to the final statement, which is the so
lution.
(1)
ax b + c
=
d
implies (2)
ax
=
d + b c
implies (3)
x
=
(d + b c)/a
The original equation (1) is "transformed" by first transposing the terms (Lesso
n 1). Statement (1) implies statement (2).
That statement is then transformed by dividing by a. Statement (2) implies stat
ement (3), which is the solution.
Thus we solve an equation by transforming it
changing its form
statement b
y statement, line by line according to the rules of algebra, until x finally is
isolated on the left. That is how books on mathematics are written (but unfort
unately not books that teach algebra!). Each line is its own readable statement
that follows from the line above
with no crossings out.
In other words, What is a calculation? It is a discrete transformation of symbo
ls. In arithmetic we transform "19 + 5" into "24". In algebra we transform "x
+ a = b" into "x = b a."
http://www.jamesbrennan.org/algebra/numbers/multiplication_and_division1.htm
The Real Reason
It should be obvious that the presentation of the rules of arithmetic given here
is just a collection of motivational arguments, not a formal development. The f
ormal development of the real number system starts with the field axioms. The fi
eld axioms are postulated, and then all the other properties follow from them. T
he field axioms are
The associative and commutative laws for addition and multiplication
The existence of the additive and multiplicative identities (0 and 1)
The existence of the additive inverse (opposites, or negatives) and the
multiplicative inverse (the reciprocal)
The distributive law
All of these are essential, but the distributive law is particularly important b
ecause it is what distinguishes the behavior of multiplication from addition. Na
mely, multiplication distributes over addition but not vice versa.
The rules of arithmetic like a negative times a negative gives a positive are what
they are because that is the only way the field axioms would still hold. For ex
ample, the distributive law requires that
2(3 2) = (2)(3) + (2)(2)
We can evaluate the left side of this equation by following the order of operati
ons, which says to do what is in parentheses first, so
2(3 2) = 2(1) = 2.

Now for the distributive law to be true, the right side must also be equal to 2
, so
(2)(3) + (2)(2) = 2
If we use our sign rules for multiplication then it works out the way it should:
(2)(3) + (2)(2) = 6 + 4 = 2