Question

I need some step by step help on this math problem. I know I am to get ride of the fractions somehow, but I really don't know how to start or finish.
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Answer 1

Okay. For a the basic idea is to multiply both sides by the common multiple of denomiNators on LHS and RHS.

Answer 2

ie we have 1/2 on left, 1/3 on right. Can you think of a multiple of both 3 and 2?

Answer 3

Wait, what is LHS and RHS??

Answer 4

left hand side and right hand side

Answer 5

ooh, duh! I'm a dunce.
So, as for a multiple of both 3 and 2, would it be 4?

I had also heard that I would need to subtract these fractions by something, and my mom wrote this on a peice of paper in regards to this problem :
(x-4) = 1/3x + 1 1/2
I don't understand what that did though.

Answer 6

Not 4.

Answer 7

common denominator of 3 and 2 is what

Answer 8

oops...of 1/2 and 1/3

Answer 9

Would it be 1?
Because 1 is the lowest and is repeated twice?

Answer 10

the number that 3 and 2 will both go into evenly is what ?

Answer 11

Let's try some examples. We cant try to find common multiples for 5 and 4. This means 5* x(some number)=4*y(another number)
Clearly 20 is one of the values. 5*4=4*5=20(which is a multiple of both 5 and 4
Similarly for 2 and 5 its 10. 2*5 =5*2=10(which is a multiple of 5 and 2)
Note that I am only taking least common multiple here.

Now tell me the case for 2 and 3.

Answer 12

2,4,6,8,10
3,6,9,12,15
do u see a number that both 3 and 2 go into ?

Answer 13

Six!!

Answer 14

Right?

Answer 15

Finally!

Answer 16

Once you find that it's just a wave of your magic wand. Multiply both sides by 6 and see what happens.

Answer 17

lol..bye bye fractions

Answer 18

6 x 2 = 12 and 6 x 4 = 24

Both sides by 6 ^^

Answer 19

u multiply 1/2 and 1/3 by 6

Answer 20

oh...
1/2 x 6 is 3 I believe, and 1/3 by 6 is 1.9
Right?

Answer 21

both sides by 6

Answer 22

6*(1/2)*(x-4)=6*(x/3+2)

Answer 23

What is x though?
I don't understand what it resembles.

Answer 24

x is the variable in your question I just wrote (1/3)x as x/3

Answer 25

So, 6 * 1/2 is 3 which I then subtract by 4?
How on earth do I incorporate x which has no resemblance to any number but just stands there as a letter?

Answer 26

6 * 1/2 * (x- 4) = 6 * 1/3x + 6 * 2

Answer 27

I know, you just repeated what Arav posted up above, but I'm halting the equation when I'm trying to do that.
6 * 1/2 * ???
It say's x, but how do you multiply by a variable that doesn't resemble anything?

Answer 28

1/3x is the same as x/3.....

6 * 1/2 is 3...so the lhs will be 3(x - 4).....can u understand that ?

Answer 29

rhs....
6 * (1/3) x + 6 * 2
2x + 12....understand that ?

Answer 30

so now u have...
3(x- 4) = 2x + 12
u understand ?

Answer 31

Okay, so 3 - 4 will be -1 and 2 + 12 will be 14.

Answer 32

no...
3(x - 4)....distribute....take the 3 and multiply it by everything in the parenthesis...
3 * x + 3 * - 4 = 3x + (- 12) = 3x - 12....understand so far ?

Answer 33

now we have...
3x - 12 = 2x + 12

Answer 34

3x - 12 = 2x + 12
3x - 2x = 12 + 12
x = 24

Answer 35

3 times x

You cannot multiply 3 times a letter. Thats what I don't get.

Answer 36

Its called a variable nt letter in mathematics. You can multiply a variable to a number because variable gets values which ate numbers.

Answer 37

But how does 3 times x times - 4 = 3x ?
What is that x DOING to make the whole equation equal 3x ?

Answer 38

you can multiply 3 times x....it is 3x.
the x just happens to be a number u dont know yet....so u have to find what that number is....u have to find x

Answer 39

3(x - 4)...to get rid of parenthesis, u multiply 3 by everything in the parenthesis...
3 * x + 3 * - 4 =
3x + (- 12) = 3x - 12

Answer 40

Alright, I think I have an idea of this now.
So for part b of the section, how would I write a word problem out?

Answer 41

@radar
Do you think you could maybe look this over and help with part b of my question?
I'd appreciate it immensely sir!! ^.^