document.write( "Question 532493: what is the answer to $\"+5%2Fx+%2B+3+=+17+\"$ and how do you write it out and can you show me how you got the answer thank you \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #350850 by KMST(5328) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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When solving simple equations like this, you want to undo all the evil things that were done to x in reverse order.
\n" ); document.write( "The division $\"5%2Fx\"$ was done first, and then 3 was added.
\n" ); document.write( "We undo the addition of 3 first, by subtracting 3 from both sides.
\n" ); document.write( "That transforms the equation into one that is equivalent. All the solutions of the old equation are solutions of the new one and all the solutions of the new equation are solutions of the old one.
\n" ); document.write( "From $\"5%2Fx%2B3=17\"$ we go to
\n" ); document.write( " $\"5%2Fx%2B3-3=17-3\"$ and simplify to $\"5%2Fx=14\"$
\n" ); document.write( "Then, so as not to have x in the denominator, we multiply both sides by x. Multiplying by anything with a variable in it may introduce new (extraneous) solutions, so when we do it we are extra careful to verify that the solution we get works for the original equation.
\n" ); document.write( " $\"%285%2Fx%29%2Ax=14%2Ax\"$ and simplify to $\"5=14x\"$
\n" ); document.write( "Now we see x multiplied by 14, so we divide both sides by 14 to get
\n" ); document.write( " $\"5%2F14=14x%2F14\"$ and simplify to $\"5%2F14=x\"$
\n" ); document.write( "So $\"x=5%2F14\"$ seems to be the solution.
\n" ); document.write( "We need to verify in the original equation.
\n" ); document.write( " $\"5%2F%285%2F14%29%2B3=5%2A%2814%2F5%29%2B3=14%2B3=17\"$
\n" ); document.write( "It works, so $\"x=5%2F14\"$ is the solution. \n" ); document.write( "

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