Question

Please help

Answer 1

What do you think you should do first in this problem?

Answer 2

multiply -4/5 by the answer options

Answer 3

I think its a

Answer 4

That *is* a way you *could* do it, but that only helps when you are given the multiple choice answers.

Answer 5

How do you do it when its not multiple choice

Answer 6

If you punch in -5/4 into a calculator, what does it come out with?

Answer 7

-1.25

Answer 8

Right, and that gives you:
$$-1.25 \times n = 40 $$

Do you know how to solve for n?

Answer 9

divide 40 by -1.25 maybe

Answer 10

Exactly! Which is?

Answer 11

-32

Answer 12

Remember that what you do to one side you can do to the other side which helps in solving for single letter variables

Answer 13

thanx thats good to know @Johnbc

Answer 14

@Johnbc is correct.
You could also solve it like this:
$$-\frac{5}{4}n = 40 $$

Multiply both sides by 4:
$$ -5n = 180 $$

Divide both sides by -5:
$$ n = -\frac{180}{5} = -32 $$

That's the BEST way to solve this problem.

Answer 15

thanx

Answer 16

It's the best way, because you could get a fraction like $$\frac{1}{3}$$ instead, which gives you 1.333333333... in a calculator. You won't be able to find the exact answer, unless you use the "best" way.