document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=210765>Question 210765</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> x        1<BR>\n" );
document.write( "-   -    -  = 2<BR>\n" );
document.write( "8        4<BR>\n" );
document.write( " <BR>\n" );
document.write( "On the equation above what is my first step? </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #159229 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=stanbon><B>stanbon(75887)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=stanbon><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/nopicture.jpg><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=159229\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> x        1<BR>\n" );
document.write( "-   -    -  = 2<BR>\n" );
document.write( "8        4<BR>\n" );
document.write( "----------------------<BR>\n" );
document.write( "In general, when you have an equation with fractions, multiply<BR>\n" );
document.write( "both sides by the least common multiple of the denominators.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "----------------------<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Your Problem: lcm = 8<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Multiply thru by 8<BR>\n" );
document.write( "---<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x - 2 = 16<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x = 18<BR>\n" );
document.write( "===============<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Cheers,<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Stan H. </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );