2/5=3/m what is variable m

Question

2/5=3/m what is variable m and why?

 

Answer 1

2/5 = 3/m

 

Multiply both sides of the equation by m.

 

(2/5) (m) = 3

 

Now divide both sides of the equation by 2/5 to get the value of m

 

m = (3) / (2/5) = 15/2 = 7-1/2

Answer 2

Hi Becca, this is a proportion. 2 it to 5 as 3 is to m. To solve proportions, cross-multiply.

 

Cross-multiply:

 

2 / 5 = 3 / m

 

2m = 15

 

Divide both sides by 2:

 

m = 7.5

 

The proportion is: 2 is to 5 as 3 is to 7.5.

 

You can see 5 is 2 and one-half times larger than 2. 7.5 is 2 and one-half times larger than 3.

 

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