solve a/9a-2 = 1/8

Question

 

how do i solve this equation?

 

a/9a-2 = 1/8

Answer 1

One way to answer equations with fractions is to break them apart first.   a/9a-2=1/8      

Multiply 9a-2 to both sides because they are division.  Cancel the left side to get a=1(9a-2)/8.

Now, multiply the 8 to both sides because they are also division.  8a=9a-2.

Isolate the variable using the additive inverse property.  8a[-9a]=9a[-9a]-2   -a=-2  or   a=2

 

The key for me is to break apart the "division" part of the problem first by multiplying both sides to cancel or create an (A/A or 1) on that side.  How are they put together? Do the opposite process to break them apart.  Division-Multiplication,  Addition-Subtraction.  Make sure whatever you do to one side of the equation, do to the other.

 

Answer 2

a/(9a-2) = 1/8 <== Is this what you meant?

Cross multiplication leads to,

8a = 9a - 2

Solve for a,

a = 2 <==Answer