Question 624600
Wow! You've got to calm down. I can only repeat something I heard
on the radio years ago from a guy named Larry Glick.
" Inch by inch, life's a cinch. Yard by yard, life is hard."
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The idea of an equation is a good starting point.
Think of the equals sign as the balance point and you
have to balance the left and the right sides.
{{{ 2 = 3 }}} does not balance
{{{ 1/3 = 1/3 }}} is a perfect balance
is {{{ 1/3 = 1/3 + x }}} a perfect balance. No, unless you
make {{{ x = 0 }}}, and that's OK to do.
How about
{{{ 5/13 = 4/13 + x }}} ?
The right side needs another {{{ 1/13 }}} to make a balance, so
{{{ x = 1/13 }}}
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Is {{{ 0 = 0 }}} true? Yes
How about {{{ 0 = 0 + x }}} ?
Only if {{{ x = 0 }}}
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Anything you do to one side you MUST do to the other
side or you will upset the balance
Suppose I have
{{{ x - 2/5 = 2x + 3/5 }}}
I want all the terms containing {{{ x }}} on one side ( either side-it doesn't matter )
Subtract {{{ x }}} from BOTH sides
{{{ -2/5 = x + 3/5 }}}
Now subtract {{{ 3/5 }}} from both sides
{{{ -2/5 - 3/5 = x }}}
{{{ -5/5 = x }}}
{{{ x = -1 }}}
solved
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Hope some of this helps