Solving Rational Equations

Question

5/4 -( x+4)/x=(x-7)/2x

Answer 1

Easy, if you LEARN 'CLEARING FRACTIONS.'  

 

SURVEY ALL terms AND DETERMINE THE LCD.

 

Multiply throughout by that LCD.  But first, as Michael J says, you have to clean up by using sufficient parentheses.

 

That's because here on WyzAnt you must type on a single line, which is not what you would write on paper, WHERE YOU HAVE THE LUXURY & FREEDOM OF USING A LONG DIVISION LINE to segregate numerator from denominator.

 

 

Answer 2

5/4 - x+4/x=x-7/2x

 

I am adding parenthesis

 

5/4 -(x+4)/x =(x-7) /2x

 

LCM of denominator is 4x

so

5x -4(x+4) =2(x-7)

 

5x -4x-16 =2x-14

 

x-16 =2x -14

 

x =-2