document.write( "Question 196330: Hello,\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "I am not really sure where to put this question...what topic it would fall under...\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Here is my problem:\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "-3 1/2x + 2 3/4 + 1/2x = 3 7/8\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "I tried several ways to solve this but I could not come up with the correct answer... and I am not sure if I am approaching the problem correctly.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "This is from an algebra one course...\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Thank you very much,
\n" ); document.write( "Diane M. \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #147151 by nerdybill(7384)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Your equation is ambiguous. People reading it can interpret it in potentially more than one way. Correct me if I interpreted your problem wrong.
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\n" ); document.write( "Starting with:
\n" ); document.write( "-3 1/2x + 2 3/4 + 1/2x = 3 7/8
\n" ); document.write( "Your first step is to change the mixed numbers into improper fractions:
\n" ); document.write( "-3 1/2 = -(6/2 + 1/2) = -7/2
\n" ); document.write( "2 3/4 = 8/4 + 3/4 = 11/4
\n" ); document.write( "3 7/8 = 24/8 + 7/8 = 31/8
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\n" ); document.write( "Now, we can rewrite:
\n" ); document.write( "-3 1/2x + 2 3/4 + 1/2x = 3 7/8
\n" ); document.write( "As
\n" ); document.write( "(-7/2)x + 11/4 + (1/2)x = 31/8
\n" ); document.write( "Multiply both sides by 8 to get rid of all denominators:
\n" ); document.write( "8[(-7/2)x + 11/4 + (1/2)x] = 8[31/8]
\n" ); document.write( "-28x + 22 + 4x = 31
\n" ); document.write( "-24x + 22 = 31
\n" ); document.write( "22 = 24x + 31
\n" ); document.write( "-9 = 24x
\n" ); document.write( "-9/24 = x
\n" ); document.write( "-3/8 = x \r
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