SOLUTION: Divide 75 into two parts so that one part is 2/3 of the other

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Question 1173527: Divide 75 into two parts so that one part is 2/3 of the other
Found 2 solutions by ikleyn, greenestamps:
Answer by ikleyn(52756) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
.

Your equation is


     x + %282%2F3%29x = 75.


Multiply both sides by 3


    3x + 2x = 75*3

      5x    = 75*3

       x    = 15*3 = 45.


ANSWER.  The parts are 45 and 30.

Solved.



Answer by greenestamps(13195) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!


The solution from the other tutor is fine; and it is what would typically be expected, given the statement of the problem.

One part is x, so the other part is 2/3 of x. So
x%2B%282%2F3%29x+=+75

Then multiply both sides of that equation to clear fractions, obtaining

3x%2B2x+=+225

Then from there find that x is 45 so 2/3 of x is 30. Answers 45 and 30.

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I personally would use the given information to start the problem in a different way.

Given that one part is 2/3 of the other, I would start the problem by letting the two numbers be 2x and 3x. Then

3x%2B2x+=+75
5x+=+75
x+=+15

The two numbers are 3x=45 and 2x=30.

If you need to work problems like this frequently, try solving them using both methods (and any other methods you might see) and see which method "works" best for you.