SOLUTION: Hi I am a teacher of Adult Education / GED and myself and another teacher have been completely stumped by the following equation. Please help by giving us the answer and showing th

Algebra ->  Equations -> SOLUTION: Hi I am a teacher of Adult Education / GED and myself and another teacher have been completely stumped by the following equation. Please help by giving us the answer and showing th      Log On


   

Question 444867: Hi I am a teacher of Adult Education / GED and myself and another teacher have been completely stumped by the following equation. Please help by giving us the answer and showing the work.
18.5 x (10-n)/n = 18.5

thank you! :)
Found 2 solutions by nerdybill, MathLover1:
Answer by nerdybill(7384) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
I'm assuming the 'x' indicates multiplication:
18.5 x (10-n)/n = 18.5
divide both sides by 18.5:
(10-n)/n = 1
multiply both sides by n:
10-n = n
10 = 2n
5 = n

Answer by MathLover1(20849) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
I assume x means times...
5%2810-n%29%2Fn+=+18.5...first cross multiply

5%2810-n%29%2Fn+=+18.5%2F1.....

5%2810-n%29=+18.5n

50-5n+=+18.5n

50+=+18.5n%2B5n

50+=+23.5n

n+=+50%2F23.5

n+=+2.13

if if you have an x and need to solve for x, than you will have:

5x%2810-n%29%2Fn+=+18.5.......first cross multiply

5x%2810-n%29+=+18.5n..........divide both sides by 5

5x%2810-n%29%2F5+=+18.5n%2F5

x%2810-n%29+=+3.7n

x+=+3.7n%2F%2810-n%29

solution:
here you have a hyperbola,
there is a restriction 10-n cannot be equal to zero
if 10-n=0...=>n=10........so n=10 is not part of solution