Solve for x in the proportion:

Question

anonymous · Answer

$$\frac{ x + 1 }{ 8 }$$ =
$$\frac{ 2x - 5 }{ 2 }$$

anonymous · Answer

I got 2x + 1 = 16x - 40 Not sure what to do next

johnweldon1993 · Answer

You mean you got 2x + 2 = 16x - 40

right?

anonymous · Answer

Yes, sorry typo.

anonymous · Answer

Do you think the answer is 3? It's a choice. and I plugged in. 8 = 8

johnweldon1993 · Answer

No problem....well now...you want to combine like terms...you want every number with an  'x' on one side of the equation...and every other number on the other side....so subtract 2x from both sides and add 40 to both sides

2x + 2 = 16x - 40
-2x          -2x

2 = 14x - 40
+40       +40

42 = 14x

divide both sides by 14 to solve for x

42 = 14x
---------
14      14

x = 3

anonymous · Answer

Ahh I see, well these problems I struggle with. Thank you for your explanation (:

johnweldon1993 · Answer

No problem! :)