Expert: Lynn Houston - 10/26/2009

Question
Hi lynn,


can you please show me in steps, as each time i do these, i get a different answer :-(


1.      5+ x/3=7


2.      1/2x-1=5

3.      3/4x-2=1/3x+3  

Answer
The easiest way to handle these is to start by getting rid of the fractions.  To do that, multiply by the denominator of the fraction or fractions.

1.      (3)5+ 3x/3=7(3)
15 + x = 21   subtract 15 from both sides
x = 6


2.     (2)1/2x-1(2)=5(2)
x - 2 = 10  add 2 to each side
x = 12


3.     (3)(4)(3/4x)-2(3)(4)=(3)(4)(1/3x)+3(3)(4)
  9x - 24 = 4x + 36  subtract 4x and add 24 to both sides
  5x = 60  divide by 5
   x = 12
  

Make sense?