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Question 63346: I hope you are able to help. I'm awful with these. Thank you for any help.
2/3( 7/8 – 4x) – 5/8 = 3/8
Answer by mszlmb(115)   (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website! 2/3(7/8–4x)–5/8=3/8
Plus (5/8) both sides
2/3(7/8-4x)=8/8 8/8=1, replace 8/8 with 1.
2/3(7/8-4x)=1 That simplifies things. Divide by 2/3 on both sides
7/8-4x=1/(2/3)
Let's look at  . 1 is the same thing as 1/1, so the fraction is  . To divide a fraction by another, multiply the first fraction by the reciprocal of the other. To obtain the reciprocal, simply switch the numerator (number on top) with the denominator (number on botton). Applying this, the equation yields  . To multiply, simply multiply the numerators to obtain the product numerator, and the denominators likewise.  . Getting back to the equation,
7/8-4x=3/2 Minus 7/8 on both sides
-4x=(3/2)-(7/8)
To subtract fractions, we need a common denominator. We obtain this by finding a common factor, eight in this case. Not to commit confusion, but the factor can be a lot of numbers. It could be 16, 32, even 5 if we complicated the equation (6.5/5-(35/8)/5), but ideally we find the least common denominator which will allow us integers' comfort. Depending on your level of math, you may want to ignore this paragraph. Anyways, the common denominator is 8.
-4x=12/8-7/8 I multiplied both the numerator and denominator of the 3/2 by 4 to get the common denominator of 8. Simplify.
-4x=5/8 Now divide by -4.
x=(5/8)/-4 -4 is the same as (-4/1) so replace -4 with its equivalent for proof's sake:
x=(5/8)/(-4/1) Multiply first fraction with reciprocal of the other.
x=(5/8)*(1/-4)=-5/40 simplify the fraction:
-1/8, or -.125
Don't hesitate with questions.
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