Question 119282
Let x represent the unknown number.
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Then one-half of the unknown number is x divided by 2 or {{{x/2}}}
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And one-sixth of the unknown number is x divided by 6 or {{{x/6}}}
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The problem tells you that one-half x is 3 more than one-sixth x. In equation form this can
be written as:
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{{{x/2 = x/6 + 3}}}
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You can get rid of the denominators by multiplying both sides of this equation (all terms) by 6
to get:
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{{{(6*x)/2 = (6*x)/6 + 18}}}
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Notice on the left side the 2 in the denominator divides into the 6 in the numerator 
3 times. And on the right side the 6 in the denominator divides into the 6 in the numerator
1 time.  These two reductions make the equation become:
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{{{3x = x + 18}}}
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Get rid of the x on the right side by subtracting x from both sides to get:
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{{{2x = 18}}}
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Finally, solve for x by dividing both sides by 2 to get:
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{{{x = 9}}}
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Check the answer. One half of 9 is {{{9/2}}}. One sixth of 9 is {{{9/6}}}. Three more than {{{9/6}}} 
is {{{9/6 + 3 = 9/6 + 18/6 = 27/6}}}
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So does {{{9/2}}} equal {{{27/6}}}???
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Yes it does because if you divide 9 by 2 the answer is 4 1/2. And if you divide 27 by 6 the
answer is 4 3/6 which is also 4 1/2.  
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So, the answer checks. The unknown number you were to find is 9.
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Hope this helps you to understand the problem.
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