Question

Solve: 1/m=a/b
a. m=ab
b. m=a/b
c. m=b/a

Answer 1

In any equation of the form:

something = something_else

what ever you do to the left-hand-side of the equation also has to be done to the right-hand-side of the equation.

with this in mind, what would you need to do to the left-hand-side of your equation to get from 1/m to m?

Answer 2

multiply by 1?

Answer 3

that would just give:\[1\times\frac{1}{m}=\frac{1}{m}\]

Answer 4

have you heard of "inversion"?

Answer 5

no..

Answer 6

so would you multiply it by a/b too?

Answer 7

ok, given some fraction like:\[\frac{a}{b}\]we can invert it to get:\[\frac{b}{a}\]so given the fraction:\[\frac{1}{m}\]if we invert it, what do you think we will get?

Answer 8

remember inversion just involves swapping the numerator and denominator of the fraction

Answer 9

m/1

Answer 10

perfect!

Answer 11

so now remember the rule I gave you at the start -
what ever you do to the left-hand-side of the equation also has to be done to the right-hand-side of the equation.

using this rule, we know that since we inverted the left-hand-side, we must also now invert the right-hand-side

Answer 12

so what would you get if you inverted:\[\frac{a}{b}\]

Answer 13

m/1=b/a?

Answer 14

that is correct - well done! :)

Answer 15

and remember that m/1 is the same as just m.

Answer 16

okay so the answer would be b/a, correct?

Answer 17

yes :)

Answer 18

thank you!! :)

Answer 19

yw :)