-4/5x=16/15

Question

fractions are killing me, help

 

 

Answer 1

If it's this:

-4/(5x) = 16/15

 

You can cross-multiply:

-4 * 15 = 5x * 16

-60 = 80x

 

Divide by 80:

-60/80 = x

x = -3/4

 

 

If it's this:

(-4/5)x = 16/15

 

As stated above by Bill:

Multiply both sides by -5/4.

x = (16/15) (-5/4)

 

Cancel 16 and the 4.

 

x = (4/15)(-5/1)

 

Cancel the 15 and the -5

 

X = (4/3)(-1/1)

x = -4/3

 

Notice the answers are reciprocals depending on whether the x is in the numerator or the denominator.

 

Helpful suggestion:

Please make liberal use of parentheses when posting your questions.

 

 

Hope this helps.

Jason

Answer 2

Hi Amy!  As you know, you're trying to solve for x, so you need to isolate the x.  That means moving the -4/5 from the left side over to the right side.

 

1.  To get rid of the -4/5, you can divide -4/5x by -4/5.  This leaves you with 1x, or simply x.

 

       -4/5x   =  x

       -4/5

 

2.  However, whatever you do to one side of the = sign you have to do to the other.  Therefore, since you divided the left side by -4/5, you have to divide the right side by -4/5.  In other words, x = 16/15 divided by -4/5.

 

3.  Remember the rule for dividing fractions:  Flip the fraction you want to divide by, then multiply the fractions.

 

       16  ÷  -4     =    16  x   5

       15       5            15  x  -4

 

When you do that math, you'll have the answer for x.  You'll probably want to simplify the result.  Hope this helps!

 

Bill W.