SOLUTION: i need help with how to clear fractions like this one can you please give me the steps of how you did it and please show the work so that i can understand it how you got the answer

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Question 248845: i need help with how to clear fractions like this one can you please give me the steps of how you did it and please show the work so that i can understand it how you got the answer please?
t/3-t/8=5.5

thank you!!!
Answer by dabanfield(803) (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
need help with how to clear fractions like this one can you please give me the steps of how you did it and please show the work so that i can understand it how you got the answer please?
t/3-t/8=5.5

First we need to get a common denominator for the two fractions on the left. Both denominators 3, and 8 are factors of 24 (note: you can always multiply the two numbers together to get a common multiple).
Multiply both sides of the equation by 24 giving:
24*(t/3) - 24*(t/8) = 24*(5.5)
Simplify:
8*t - 3*t = 132
Notice how the two coefficents on the left became whole numbers because of our choice of the common multiple.
Simplifying we have:
5*t = 132
t = 132/5