Question

Anyone available to help with algebra please?

Answer 1

What do you need help with?

Answer 2

The solution set for the equation: (m - 2) / m = 4 \ (m^2 - 2m) is?

Answer 3

lets start of by getting rid of the nasty denominators by multiplying both sides by them, what do we get if we do that?

Answer 4

can you cross multiply or do you need to find the common denominator?

Answer 5

you aren't multiplying fractions or anything here all you're doing is multiplying each side by the same thing because if we have an equation we can do the same thing to both sides and it stays the same. Lets just start of by multiplying both sides by m

Answer 6

so (m - 2) = 4m / (m^2 - 2m)?

Answer 7

Yep. Now multiply by the other denominator

Answer 8

Oh wait...

Answer 9

First notice that in the denominator its m^2-2m so the m can be factored out to m(m-2) and then the ms in the numerator and denominator cancel and your left with 4/(m-2) on the right. Then multiply by the denominator and things will be easier

Answer 10

that is what i meant by cross multiplying because when i cancel the (m - 2) i get 1 / m = 4 / m which would be null set, right?

Answer 11

When you have (m-2)=4/(m-2) you can't cancel the m-2 cuz your gonna multiply that so you end up with (m-2)(m-2)=4. I see what you mean with cross multiplying but you have to be careful cuz the m-2s dont cancel

Answer 12

that is what is confusing me, why don't they cancel?

Answer 13

Basically it's cuz theyre on opposite sides of the equation. These are the steps to solve:
\[m-2=\frac{ 4 }{ m-2 }\]
then multiply by m-2 on both sides
\[(m-2)(m-2)=\frac{ 4(m-2) }{ (m-2) }\]
Then the m-2s on the right cancel and your left with
\[(m-2)^{2}=4\]

Answer 14

for some reason i keep seeing it like a ratio...i understand you can't cancel across the = sign, thank you

Answer 15

I get what you're saying cuz if they were right next to each other and being multiplied they would cancel but they dont across the equals sign. Are you all set for the rest of the problem?

Answer 16

yes the answer is 4, thank you

Answer 17

will you be available to check another once I complete it?

Answer 18

There are 2 answers because the square root could be positive or negative but your on the right track. Nice job! As for being available I probably will be

Answer 19

Does -4 work when plugged back into equation?