SOLUTION: After paying 1/mth and 1/nth of a bill, a remained as due. Determine the bill amount. My attempt: Let x = amount of bill. x - 1/m - 1/n = a lcd = mn xmn - 1/mn -

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Question 1043055: After paying 1/mth and 1/nth of a bill, a remained as due.
Determine the bill amount.
My attempt:
Let x = amount of bill.
x - 1/m - 1/n = a
lcd = mn
xmn - 1/mn - 1/nm = amn
How do I continue ?
Non-homework.
Found 2 solutions by Edwin McCravy, josgarithmetic:
Answer by Edwin McCravy(20054)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
After paying "1/m"th and "1/n"th of a bill, "a" remained due. 
Determine the bill amount. 

My attempt:

Let x = amount of bill.

x - 1/m - 1/n = a       <-- NO! Should be 

lcd = mn                <-- yes but multiply through by it, because 
                               the idea is to CLEAR of fractions.  Get
                               rid of them.  Don't keep them!   

xmn - 1/mn - 1/nm = amn  <--No! Should be 
                               which has NO fractions!

How do I continue ?   

From this:



factor out x on the left:  



Divide both sides by what's in the parentheses



Note: The tutor below failed to correct your error.

Edwin
Answer by josgarithmetic(39615)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
RECOGNIZED: THESE STEPS ARE BASED ON INCORRECT EQUATION:
---------------------------------------------------------------------
x-1/m-1/n=a






---------------------------------------------------------------------



ACTUAL FIRST EQUATION SHOULD BE THIS:



Refer to the McCravey's solution.
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