Solve the equation. Remember to check for extraneous solutions.

Question

I don't understand how to solve this problem.

 

 

5. (4/3)=(x+2)/(3x)+(1)/(3x^2)

Answer 1

OK, Cheyenne, we first have to find a common denominator, or the LCM of the denominators.

 

In this case, the LCM is 3x², because both 3 and 3x times something give us 3x².

 

Now we have to convert our fractions.  What times 3 gives us 3x²? Multiply the 4 by that.  What times 3x gives us 3x²? Multiply the (x+2) by that.  Because 3x² is already 3x², then we can leave the one alone. 

 

Once you move everything to one side (=0), you can get rid of the denominator (since we can't have a 0 as a denominator) and solve the numerator for x.

 

I hope this helps.