SOLUTION: Solve the following equation for x. You must show every step to receive credit. I am grading your work as much as I am grading your answer. (8)/(4)x-6=4-(1)/(12)x

Algebra ->  Quadratic Equations and Parabolas  -> Quadratic Equations Lessons -> SOLUTION: Solve the following equation for x. You must show every step to receive credit. I am grading your work as much as I am grading your answer. (8)/(4)x-6=4-(1)/(12)x      Log On


   

Question 1202216: Solve the following equation for x. You must show every step to receive credit. I am grading your work as much as I am
grading your answer.
(8)/(4)x-6=4-(1)/(12)x
Found 2 solutions by Alan3354, greenestamps:
Answer by Alan3354(69443) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
%288%29%2F%284%29x-6=4-%281%29%2F%2812%29x
Multiply by x
%288x%29%2F%284%29+-6x+=+4x-%281%29%2F%2812%29
2x+-6x+=+4x-%281%29%2F%2812%29
-4x+=+4x-%281%29%2F%2812%29
-8x+=+-%281%29%2F%2812%29
8x+=+-1%2F12
x+=+-1%2F96

Answer by greenestamps(13198) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!


The solution from the other tutor interprets "(8)/(4)x" as 8%2F%284x%29 and "(1)/(12)x" as 1%2F%2812x%29

(Note also that his algebra is faulty, leading to an incorrect answer for his interpretation.)

Those expressions are ambiguous; many software tools will interpret them that way, but many other tools will interpret them as %288%2F4%29x=2x and %281%2F12%29x.

Most references regarding order of operations will interpret each of those expressions as a division followed by a multiplication, leading to the second interpretation.

So... another possible solution:

2x-6=4-%281%2F12%29x
2x%2B%281%2F12%29x=4%2B6
%2825%2F12%29x=10
x=10%2812%2F25%29=120%2F25=24%2F5

ANSWER: x = 24/5