document.write( "Question 54332: Solve and check.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "3a/7 = -2/5 \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #36605 by rchill(405) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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Because both sides of the equation are fractions, you can either cross-multiply or multiply both sides by a common denominator. Using the latter, multiplying both sides by 35 gives us $\"5%2A3a=-2%2A7\"$ , which reduces to $\"15a=-14\"$ . Dividing both sides by 15 yields $\"a=expr%28-14%2F15%29\"$ .
\n" ); document.write( "To check that, substitute it into the original equation: $\"%283%2A%28expr%28-14%2F15%29%29%29%2F7=expr%28-2%2F5%29\"$ , which simplifies to $\"-42%2F15%2F7=expr%28-2%2F5%29\"$ . That further simplifies to $\"expr%28-42%2F15%29%2Aexpr%281%2F7%29=expr%28-2%2F5%29\"$ and $\"expr%28-6%2F15%29=expr%28-2%2F5%29\"$ , which finally reduces to $\"expr%28-2%2F5%29=expr%28-2%2F5%29\"$ . Because that is a true statement, we know our answer is correct! \n" ); document.write( "

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