Question 55640
<pre><font size = 5 color = "darkblue">><b>2X-3/3=3x+2/5

That is mistyped because when typing a fraction all
on one line using this " / " for a fraction bar, you
must enclose all numerators and denominators within 
parentheses which contain more than just one number 
or just one letter. So you should have typed this:

(2x-3)/3 = (3x+2)/5

You wouldn't need to put the denominators within
parentheses because they are just one number each.
Parentheses aren't necessary when written on
two lines with horizontal fraction bars, like this:

     2x-3     3x+2
    ------ = ------
       3        5

Anyway, the idea is to clear of fractions.

The LCD of 3 and 5 is 15, so multiply both sides by
15.  That is, put 15 over 1, like this: 

<font color="red"> 15  </font>
<font color="red">----·</font>
<font color="red">  1  </font>

then put this in front of every term on both sides:

<font color="red"> 15  </font> 2x-3    <font color="red"> 15  </font> 3x+2
<font color="red">----·</font>------ = <font color="red">----·</font>------
<font color="red">  1  </font>   3     <font color="red">  1  </font>   5

Now cancel the 3 into the 15 on the left, getting 5.
Cancel 5 into 15 on the right, getting 3.

  5            3 
<font color="red"> <s>15</s>  </font> 2x-3    <font color="red"> <s>15</s>  </font> 3x+2
<font color="red">----·</font>------ = <font color="red">----·</font>------
<font color="red">  1  </font>   <s>3</s>     <font color="red">  1  </font>   <s>5</s>
        1             1

Now you must place parentheses around the 2x-3, like
this (2x-3), and also around the 3x+2, like this (3x+2)
and your equation becomes

    5(2x-3) = 3(3x+2)

Can you finish from there?

Answer: x = 21 

Edwin</pre>