Expert: Lynn Houston - 3/18/2009

Question
hi Lynn,I'm having difficulty with this question, can you please help me

x+3/5 =-2        i know the answer is -13

i just cant figure out how you get to it.  

Answer
If you wrote the equation correctly, the answer is NOT -13, it is -13/5.

You can do this one of two ways.  The easiest way is to get rid of the fraction first by multiplying the whole equation by 5

5x+3= -10  Subtract 3 from both sides
5x = -13  Now you have to divide by 5
x = -13/5 or  -2 3/5

The other way is to convert -2 to 5ths and just subtract 3/5 from both sides (it saves you multiplying by 5 and dividing by 5).

x+3/5 =  -10/5 subtract 3/5 from both sides and you get
x = -13/5

UNLESS the eq is (x+3)/5 = -2 and then the answer IS -13.  I assumed the eq was x + (3/5) = -2

If it's (x+3)/5 = -2, then multiply both sides by 5
x+3 = - 10  subtract 3 from both sides
x = -13