Question 1793
this starts as a fractions question ten finishes as a simple algebra problem.

Fractions...we need to multiply every term (all 3) by the same number, so that the 2, the 3 and 5 in the denominators all cancel with it, so we get rid of the fractions. That number is the lowest common multiple of 2,3 and 5...namely 30!

so, we get {{{(30(3p/2)) - (30(5p/3)) = (30(1/5))}}}

cancelling, we get {{{45p - 50p = 6}}}, which cancels further to -5p = 6.

Hence p = -{{{6/5}}}

Looking at this, the far simpler solution would be to just combine the 2 fractions on the lefthand side first...

{{{(9p-10p)/(6) = 1/5}}}
{{{-(p/6) = 1/5}}}

therefore p = -{{{6/5}}}

that is much more elegant a solution :-)

cheers
Jon.