Question 24361
<pre><b><font size = 3>                                   b + 7b = 9

Write the b as 1b
                                  1b + 7b = 9

We add 1b and 7b, getting 8b

                                       8b = 9

Now to get rid of the 8, we
divide both sides by 8                8b     9
                                     ———— = ———
                                      8      8

Then we cancel the 8's on the left    <sub>1</sub> 
                                      <s>8</s>b     9
                                     ———— = ———
                                      <s>8</s>      8
                                       <sup>1</sup>

                                             9
                                        b = ———
                                             8

Edwin 
AnlytcPhil@aol.com</pre>