how do I get the answer for the equation x/4 = 2x + 3/15

Question

I need to know how to work this equation to the detail

 

Answer 1

You need to start by multiplying both sides by 4 to get x by itself, so your next line would be

x=8x+12/15 (or 4/5), next you would want to get all of the x's on one side, so you would subtract 8x from each side.

-7x=4/5, next you need to get x all by itself, so you would divide each side by -7

x=4/5 * 1/7 (because when you divide by a number it is the same as multiplying by the inverse, so finally your answer would be:

x=4/35

 

Answer 2

Hi Penny--

 

First, get rid of the fraction by multiplying everything by 4, so you'll have:

 

x = 8x + 12/15

 

then subtract x from both sides to get:

 

0 = 7x + 12/15

 

which means that 7x would be -12/15, and x would be

 

- 12/15 divided by 7, which is...

 

 - 0.1142...

 

I did that with a calculator, but you can do 12 ÷ 15, which is .8000 (i added extra zeroes to give you more places to divide out to), divide that by 7, which gives you 0.1142... then just remember to make it negative.

 

Ugh, dividing fractions... everyone's favorite game. :-)

 

Hope this helps!

 

Matt in New York