500: x=200:1

Question

I have never seen an equation set up like this before. What do the colons represent? I'm sure it's a very simple equation and I'm stumped.

Answer 1

Hi Melissa;

This means...

500 is to x as 200 is to 1

It can be expressed as...

500 in the numerator is to x in the denominator, as 200 in the numerator is to 1 in the denominator...

500/x=200/1

Cross-multiply...

500=200x

2.5=x

OR...

500 in the numerator is to x in the numerator, as 200 in the denominator as 1 is in the denominator...

500/200=x/1

2.5=x

Answer 2

Division is equivalent of Fractions, the fraction and division signs are interchangeable, but it is weird to write equations as such.

Answer 3

500:x=200:1 is the same as 500/x=200/1

There are two ways to solve the problem.

You can cross multiply to get 200x=500

                                                      x=500/200

                                                      x=2.5

The other way is to multiply 200 and 1 both by 2.5 because 2.5*200=500 !

Therefore 2.5*1=2.5 and x=2.5 again.