SOLUTION: According to the book I am using, this problem is a linear equation: x/(a-1)= ax+3, solve for x It's been a few years since I've worked on algebra, so I'm under the impressio

Algebra ->  Linear-equations -> SOLUTION: According to the book I am using, this problem is a linear equation: x/(a-1)= ax+3, solve for x It's been a few years since I've worked on algebra, so I'm under the impressio      Log On


   



Question 769359: According to the book I am using, this problem is a linear equation:
x/(a-1)= ax+3, solve for x
It's been a few years since I've worked on algebra, so I'm under the impression I am forgetting important steps.

Answer by josgarithmetic(39617) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Yes, it IS a linear equation, in ONE VARIABLE.
You want to isolate all terms of x onto one side and factor x from the combined terms. Start by clearing the fraction, and multiply left and right by (a-1).

x%2F%28a-1%29=+ax%2B3
x=%28a-1%29%28ax%2B3%29
Use distributive property if you forgot other binomial multiplication skills;
x=%28a-1%29ax%2B%28a-1%29%2A3
x=a%5E2%2Ax-ax%2B3a-3
x-xa%5E2%2Bax=3a-3
x%281-a%5E2%2Ba%29=3a-3
x=%283a-3%29%2F%281-a%5E2%2Ba%29