document.write( "Question 85491: Here's a question that has myself and my classmates getting all kinds of answers\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "See what you come up with:
\n" ); document.write( "Sove the equation for y. Write the answer int he form y=mx +b, where m and b are real numbers. \r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "1/2x + 1/4y = 4 \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #61706 by stanbon(75887)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
1/2x + 1/4y = 4
\n" ); document.write( "You are probably getting different answers because the problem is
\n" ); document.write( "written with no parenthses so it can be interpreted in more than
\n" ); document.write( "one way.
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\n" ); document.write( "I'm going to write it thei way:
\n" ); document.write( "(1/2)x + (1/4)y = 4
\n" ); document.write( "Multiply thru by 4 to get:
\n" ); document.write( "2x + y = 16
\n" ); document.write( "y=-2x+16
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\n" ); document.write( "If you write it as 1/(2x) + 1/(4y) = 4 you will
\n" ); document.write( "get a different answer, as follows:
\n" ); document.write( "(4y+2x)/(8xy) = 4
\n" ); document.write( "4y+2x = 32xy
\n" ); document.write( "(4y-32xy)=-2x
\n" ); document.write( "4y(1-8x) = -2x
\n" ); document.write( "y = (-1/2)[x/(1-8x)]
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\n" ); document.write( "See what a difference parentheses can make.
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\n" ); document.write( "Cheers,
\n" ); document.write( "Stan H.\r
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