document.write( "Question 19676: when you have an equation like 1/4x+5=28, and you have to find x, how do you get rid of the fraction? \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #9526 by MelanieBCC(40) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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There are two possible ways to get rid of the fraction. One is to turn it into a decimal, but this only works some of the time. For a fraction like $\"1%2F4\"$ this will work. A fraction is just another way to express division. The numerator (on top) divided by the denominator (on bottom) will give you the decimal form of the fraction. (ie. 1 divided by 4 equals .25)
\n" ); document.write( "Warning! This will not work for many fractions, such as $\"1%2F3\"$ \r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "The other way is to multiply everything in the equation by the denominator of the fraction. In the problem you list:
\n" ); document.write( " $\"%281%2F4%29x%2B5=28\"$ you'll multiply every term in the equation by 4:
\n" ); document.write( " $\"%284%29%281%2F4%29x%2B%284%295=%284%2928\"$ which gives you $\"1x%2B20=112\"$ \r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "The denominator is cancelled out because multiplication is the inverse of division (ie. 4 times 1 divided by 4 equals 1)\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "This way will work no matter what the fraction is.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "I hope this helps! \n" ); document.write( "

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