x/8-y/5=1

Question

x/8-y/5=1

e.mccormick · Answer

So what problem are you having with this?

anonymous · Answer

I am trying to figure out how to work this problem. It is a bit confusing for me.

e.mccormick · Answer

Well, you generally want to get y alone and everything else on the other side.

mathstudent55 · Answer

When you have an equation with fractions, multiply both sides of the equation by the least common denominator to get rid of all denominators.

e.mccormick · Answer

Or learn to love fractions!  $\mathbb{Q}$ gets no love.   /sigh  But yes, that can make it a lot easier for people.

anonymous · Answer

mathstudent55 can you please show me how?

e.mccormick · Answer

Well, you have 8 and 5.  What is the smallest number that would go into both of them?  That is what they are talking about.

mathstudent55 · Answer

The question above is in reverse.
The question is, what is the smallest number that both 5 and 8 divide into evenly?
Or you can ask, what is the smallest number that you can divide by both 5 and 8 evenly?
Since 5 and 8 are mutually prime (they have no factors in common) the least common multiple between them is their product, 8 * 5 = 40.

nirmalnema · Answer

5x-8y-40=0

mathstudent55 · Answer

|dw:1368425776549:dw|