SOLUTION: Can someone help me on this problem? I need to solve for x and check my results: 6x-1/5 - 2x/3 = 3 Thanks, Sher

Algebra ->  Equations -> SOLUTION: Can someone help me on this problem? I need to solve for x and check my results: 6x-1/5 - 2x/3 = 3 Thanks, Sher      Log On


   

Question 53632: Can someone help me on this problem?
I need to solve for x and check my results:
6x-1/5 - 2x/3 = 3
Thanks,
Sher
Answer by rchill(405) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!

Because you have two denominators here in fractions, you need to find the LCD. In this case, it's 15 (3*5=15). Now multiply both sides by 15: 15%2A6x-15%2A%281%2F5%29-15%2A%282x%2F3%29=15%2A3. Now expand the equation and we get 90x-3-10x=45. Combining like terms we get 80x-3=45, and then adding 3 to both sides yields 80x=48. Finally, divide both sides by 80 and we get x=48%2F80, which reduces to x=3%2F5.


To check our work, substitute the value of x in the original equation, thusly: 6%2A%283%2F5%29-1%2F5-%282%283%2F5%29%29%2F3=3. Expanding gives us 18%2F5-1%2F5-2%2F5=3, which reduces to %2818-1-2%29%2F15=3, which reduces still to 3=3. Because 3=3 is a true statement, that means our answer of x=3%2F5 is correct!