Question 159014
(W+2)/(2W-2)= 5 Can you help solve for W in steps so I can learn?

What we have here is called a fractional equation.

It's called fractional because the left side is a fraction.  See it?

To remove that ugly fraction, we multiply both sides of the equation by the denominator, which is (2W - 2).

(2W-2) times [(W+2)/(2W-2)] = 5 times (2W-2)

Proceed the same way you would handle regular fractions.

On the left side, we cancel out anything that looks the same.

Do you see what I mean?

The quantity (2W-2) cancels out on the left side leaving us with
the quantity (W+2).

On the right side, we use the distributive rule.  

Do you know what this means?

On the right side, we multiply 5 by EVERY term inside the quantity (2W-2).

Step by step:

5(2W-2) = 

5 times 2W = 10W

5 times -2 = -10

On the right side, we now have this:  10W - 10.

Here is what your original equation has become:

W + 2 = 10W - 10

Are you with me so far?

Notice that your fractional equation has now become a linear equation.

We now simply solve for x.  Don't forget to combine like terms!

W - 10W = -2 - 10

-9W = -12

To find the value of W, we now divide both sides of the equation by -9.

W = -12/-9

W = 12/9

Of course, your teacher may want you to reduce 12/9 to the lowest term.

In that case, 12/9 is reduced to 4/3.

Final answer: W = 4/3

Did you follow?