solve for x...1/1000x:1500 = 7:2000

Question

just took a basic math test, this was one of the "solve for x" questions.   1/1000x : 1500 = 7:2000

Answer 1

Hey Tom -- "re-scaling" may make things look nicer ... to make the 1500 look like 2000, upscale by 1/3 ... (1/1000)x becomes (4/3000)x =7 ... x= 21k/4 ... cut in half twice ... 10.5k ... 5250 <== Regards :) 

Answer 2

I wonder if 1/1000x shall be read as 1/1000*x or 1/(1000x). I would assume the former.

 

1/1000*x:1500=7:2000

1/1000*x=7:2000*1500

x/1000=7*15/20=7*3/4=21/4

x=21/4*1000=21*250=5250

 

If It was 1/(1000x), the answer would be the inverse, that is x=1/5250;