SOLUTION: -4/5p=2/3 I am not sure how to start (negative four over five x p = two over three)

Algebra ->  Equations -> SOLUTION: -4/5p=2/3 I am not sure how to start (negative four over five x p = two over three)      Log On


   



Question 894687: -4/5p=2/3 I am not sure how to start (negative four over five x p = two over three)
Answer by KMST(5328) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
You could multiply both sides of the equal sign times %28-5%2F4%29 to get an easier equivalent equation.
%28-5%2F4%29 is the reciprocal of %28-4%2F5%29 , which is a way to say that when you multiply them together the product is 1 :
%28-5%2F4%29%28-4%2F5%29=20%2F20=1
So, %28-4%2F5%29p=2%2F3 ---> %28-5%2F4%29%28-4%2F5%29p=%28-5%2F4%29%282%2F3%29 ---> 1%2Ap=-10%2F12 ---> highlight%28p=-5%2F6%29

ANOTHER OPTION:
One way to get rid of denominators is to multiply times a multiple of all denominators.
(The least common multiple sometimes works best, but you can use any convenient multiple).
Applying that to this problem you could multiply both sides times 15=5%2A3 to get
%28-4%2F5%29p=2%2F3 ---> %2815%29%28-4%2F5%29p=%2815%29%282%2F3%29 ---> -12p=10 ---> %28-12p%29%2F%28-12%29=10%2F-12 ---> p=-10%2F12 ---> highlight%28p=-5%2F6%29