Question 86649
{{{(x-2)/2-(x+2)/4=1/2}}}  I am assuming that this is your problem

Now, we find the lcd and multiply each term by the lcd to get rid of the fractions

To find the lcd, we determine the smallest whole number that both 2 and 4 will divide into and we can see that 4 is the number.  There are several approaches that can be used to find the lcd. On approach is to list the multiples of each denominator and the lcd will be the smallest number that appears in both. For example, lets find the lcd for 5 and 7:

Multiples of 5:
1*5=5
2*5=10
3*5=15
4*5=20
5*5=25
6*5=30
7*5=35------------------bingo


Multiples of 7:
1*7=7
2*7=14
3*7=21
4*7=28
5*7=35------------------bingo

So, the lcd for 5 and 7 is 35


Next we multiply each term by 4

{{{4(x-2)/2-4(x+2)/4=4(1/2)}}}  simplify

{{{2(x-2)-(x+2)=2}}}  get rid of parens

{{{2x-4-x-2=2}}}  collect like terms

{{{x-6=2}}}  add 6 to both sides

{{{x-6+6=2+6}}} collect like terms again

{{{x=8}}}

CK


{{{(8-2)/2-(8+2)/4=1/2}}}  

{{{6/2-10/4=1/2}}}
{{{12/4-10/4=1/2}}}
{{{2/4=1/2}}}

{{{1/2=1/2}}}




Hope this helps---ptaylor