What is 5/2x+2=3.5

Question

I am having a really hard time with this problem I've been on this problem for an hour I really need some help!!!!!!

i just started out learning about combining like terms.

Answer 1

Combining like terms is where you have variables and constants that are the same exponent added together.

For example:

5 + 5 = 10. Here our variable exponent is 0. x⁰ = 1, making (5*1) + (5*1) = 10

5x + 5x = 10x. Here our variable exponent is x¹ = x, making 5x + 5x

5x² + 5x² = 10x². Note that the exponent values are all the same? that's what is meant by "combining like terms."

 

However, what happens if we have:

5x + 5?

We cannot combine it any further. The x-values are different, just as 5x² + 5x cannot be added any further either due to different x-values there.

 

When I see your problem above, I think you mean:

5/2x + 2 = 3.5 instead of 5/(2x+2) = 3.5, so I'll be addressing the former.

 

The 2 and the 3.5 are of similar terms, since there is no x on either of those, so we can move the two on one side to the other. To balance the equation, we subtract 2 to both sides:

5/2x + 2 - 2 = 3.5 - 2

5/2x = 1.5

 

 

Now to solve for the rest of the problem, we need to isolate x. To do that, we need to start by moving x to the other side:

2x(5/2x) = 1.5*2x

 

5 = 3x

Now to get rid of that 3 that's still attached to the x:

5/3 = 3x/3

 

5/3 = x

 

Time to check the answer:

5 / (2 * (5/3) +2 = 3.5

5 / (10/3) + 2= 3.5

 

Since we're dividing a fraction, we can move the /3 to the numerator and multiply, thus:

(5*3)/10 + 2 = 3.5

15/10 + 2 = 3.5

1.5 + 2 = 3.5

3.5 = 3.5