how to solve this problem

Question

1/9 x = 4

Answer 1

Hello Shirley,

 

I am not entirely sure if you mean to have the x in the denominator or the numerator so I will show you how to solve both.

 

(1/9)x = 4 To solve this multiply both sides of the equation by 9 to eliminate the (1/9) on the right side.

 

9 * (1/9)x = 4 * 9 ... x = 36

 

1/(9x) = 4 Step 1 is to multiply both sides by 9x so that x is no longer in the denominator

 

(9x) * 1/(9x) = 4 * 9x ... 1 = 36x Now divide both sides by 36 to get x by itself

 

1/36 = (36x) / 36 ... 1/36 = x

 

In each case you can plug the answer into the appropriate original equation and check the answer to verify that it is correct.

 

(1/9) * 36 = 4 ... 4 = 4 this works

 

1/(9*(1/36)) = 4 ... 36/9 = 4 ...  4 = 4 this also works in the appropriate equation

Answer 2

Hi Shirley;

I am assuming this is...

(1/9)x=4

Let's multiply both sides by 9...

(9)(1/9)x=4(9)

x=36

 

Or perhaps this is...

1/(9x)=4

Let's flip both sides as we proceed to isolate x...

(9x)/1=1/4

9x=1/4

Let's divide both sides by 9...

(9x)/9=(1/4)/9

x=(1/4)/9

x=(1/4)(1/9)

x=1/36