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There are an infinite number of solutions because you have one equation with 5 variables.

You could write (w+3)(2x-a) = bw^2 - w + 3c in terms of c, giving you this:

c = ( (w+3)(2x-a) - bw^2 + w) / 3

This would allow you to write a - b + c like this:

a - b + ( (w+3)(2x-a) - bw^2 + w) / 3

But since you have only 1 equation and 5 variables, you can only get rid of 1 of the variables.  If you get rid of c, then you will (almost) always have a, b, w, and x left no matter what.  If you get rid of a, then you will (almost) always have b, c, w, and x left no matter what.

There are certain cases where you might be able to get a - b + c in terms of w and x alone, but these are rare.  In this case:

(w+3)(2x-a) = bw^2 - w + 3c

2xw - aw + 6x -3a = bw^2 - w + 3c

(-w-3)a + 2xw + 6x = (w^2)b + 3c - w

2xw + 6x - w = (w+3)a + (w^2)b + 3c

In order for this to allow a - b + c to be expressed in terms of just w and x, the coefficients in a - b + c (1, -1, and 1) would have to be proportional to the coefficients in (w+3)a + (w^2)b + 3c (w+3, w^2, and 3).

(1, -1, 1) can't be proportional to (w+3, w^2, 3) because the -1 and the (second) 1 in (1, -1, 1) are always opposite signs and the w^2 and 3 in (w+3, w^2, 3) are always the same sign.

So, without at least 2 additional equations (to knock 2 more variables), a - b + c can't be expressed in terms of just w and x.
by Level 13 User (103k points)

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