Expert: Bobby Soltani - 8/2/2004

Question
These two problems were giving me trouble.  I was wondering if you can help me.  Thanks.

1.  w/6 = 3w/11

2.  5/x = x/5

Answer
Hi Damon,

1.  The first one is a little tricky.

w/6 = 3w/11
divide both sides by w and multiply both sides by 6
w/w = 6*3/11
1 = 18/11 which is false.

The only number w can be is 0.

0/6 = 3*0/11
0 = 0.

2.  5/x = x/5
multiply both sides by x

5 = (x^2)/5

multiply both sides by 5

25 = x^2 or x^2 = 25

take the square root of both sides

x = 5 or -5

Check our answer by plugging x back into the equation

5/5 = 5/5 or 1=1, true

and 5/(-5) = (-5)/5 or -1=-1, true

I hope this helps.  Good Luck

Bobby