Question

how do you solve
x-4 1
---- = ------
x+6 7

Answer 1

to start out, lets get everything out of fraction mode.

multiply everything by 7, then multiply everything by (x+6)..what do we get for that?

Answer 2

you mean taking the first part and multiplying it by 7 right
then you would get 7x-4 and 7x+6 right?

Answer 3

close, but we are not multiplying by 7/7...that would not help...

7(x-4) 1 (7)
----- = ------ what does this equal?
(x+6) 7

Answer 4

sorry it is 7x-28 and 7 which makes the second half a whole number of 1 right

Answer 5

if I understand you correctly, then yes; we get:

7x-28
----- = 1
(x+6)

now we multiply both sides by (x+6):

(x+6) (7x-28)
------------ = 1(x+6) what does this do for us?
(x+6)

Answer 6

7x^2-168 = x+6

Answer 7

close.... but lets see if we can see what happens here:

whenever a number is divided by itself it equals 1:

4/4 = 1

7/7 = 1

(x+6)/(x+6) = 1

(x+6) (7x-28)
----- ------- = 1(x+6) means:
(x+6)

1(7x-28) = 1(x+6) right?

Answer 8

7x-28= x+6

Answer 9

very good..

now do you know how to solve it from here?

Answer 10

then you subtract the x from x+6

Answer 11

yes...

and whatever you do to one side, you have to do the same thing to the other...

so lets subtract x from both sides:

7x-x -28 = x-x +6

6x - 28 = 0+6

6x -28 = 6 right? now what?

Answer 12

add 28 to the 6
then you get

6x=34

then divide both sides by 6
and you get 5.6

Answer 13

very good :) but I dont think.... the exact amount would be 34/6 which can be reduced to 17/3.

17/3 = 5.666666666666666........ the (6)s never end.

Answer 14

we can keep it as 17/3, or estimate its value to 5.6; or maybe 5.7

Answer 15

awesome thanks for the help it was nice to have some one to work the problem with me

Answer 16

youre welcome :)