SOLUTION: Explain why the distributive property is necessary in order to solve rational equations such as x+3 over 5 = 2x-1 over 2

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Question 1027031: Explain why the distributive property is necessary in order to solve rational equations such as x+3 over 5 = 2x-1 over 2
Answer by Theo(13342) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
your equation is:

(x+3) / 5 = (2x-1) / 2

cross multiply to get 2 * (x+3) = 5 * (2x-1)

you have to use the distributive law of multiplication in order to simplify this equation so you can solve for x.

you will get 2x + 6 = 10x - 5

add 5 to both sides of this equation and subtract 2x from both sides of this equation to get 6 + 5 = 10x - 2x

combine like terms to get 11 = 8x

divide both side of this equation by 8 to get 11/8 = x.

you could not do the simplification necessary to isolate the x terms without using the distributive law of multiplication.