document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=94892>Question 94892</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> A student claims that the equation 5x = 4x is a contradiction, since dividing both sides by x leads to 5 = 4, a false statement. Explain why the student is incorrect. </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #69439 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=bucky><B>bucky(2189)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=bucky><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=69439\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Because if x equals zero the equation becomes:<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "5*0 = 4*0<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "and this reduces to:<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "0 = 0<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "and this is true.  (And if x is allowed to equal zero, you cannot divide both sides by<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x because division by zero is not allowed.)<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "So there you have an exception to what the student proposed, so the student is incorrect.<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Hope this makes sense to you.<BR>\n" );
document.write( " </SPAN>\n" );
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