Mathematics
OpenStudy (anonymous):

1/6 - x/2 = x -5/3

OpenStudy (anonymous):

The x term on the right... can you convert it to an equivalent fraction over 2?

OpenStudy (anonymous):

I don't know how to do that.

OpenStudy (anonymous):

$\frac{1}{6}+\bigg (-\frac{1}{6} \bigg) +\frac{-x}{2}=\frac {x}{1} + \frac {-5}{3}+\bigg (-\frac{1}{6} \bigg)$

OpenStudy (anonymous):

Bring the 1/6 over to the left. Also, Make the x on the right a fraction (every number is a fraction over one).

OpenStudy (anonymous):

Now, can you show me how it's done?

OpenStudy (anonymous):

Ok, from the equation above, we now have... $\frac{-x}{2}=\frac {x}{1} + \frac {-5}{3}+\bigg (-\frac{1}{6} \bigg) \Rightarrow$ $\frac{-x}{2}=\frac {x}{1} + \frac {-10}{6}+\bigg (-\frac{1}{6} \bigg ) \Rightarrow \frac{-x}{2}=\frac {x}{1} + \frac {-9}{6}$

OpenStudy (anonymous):

Any questions so far? I had to double the top and bottom of -5/3 so I could add it to -1/6. Oooops.. Just spotted a math error should be... $\frac{-x}{2}=\frac {x}{1} + \frac {-10}{6}+\bigg (-\frac{1}{6} \bigg ) \Rightarrow \frac{-x}{2}=\frac {x}{1} + \frac {-11}{6}$

OpenStudy (anonymous):

Are you following so far? If so, what is the next step????

OpenStudy (anonymous):

Well, I'm just writing down the way that you've done it.So, what's the answer?

OpenStudy (anonymous):

OK - now you can get rid of the fractions. 6 is the biggest denominator and every other denoninator divides into it. Can you multiply both sides through by 6?

OpenStudy (anonymous):

I mean, I know how to multiply the bottom part,but, the top part is confusing.

OpenStudy (anonymous):

OK, so we will multiply each term by 6/1, canceling top and bottom as we go. It will take me a while to format this so try on your own while I'm typing. OK. :-)

OpenStudy (anonymous):

$\frac{6}{1}*\frac{-x}{2}=\frac{6}{1}*\frac {x}{1} + \frac {-11}{6}*\frac{6}{1}$ OK. next we need to cancel (we're using common factors - but I won't show that step I'll just do it.

OpenStudy (anonymous):

$-3x=6x+(-11)$ Now the fractions are eliminated. Making sense (check all my math).

OpenStudy (anonymous):

That part was kind of crucial so tell me if any of that confused you.

OpenStudy (anonymous):

Yes, it was, and, I'm still not following you.

OpenStudy (anonymous):

I mean, all I really need is the answer.