Simple Problem

[AnonProxy]

Hi,

Apologies this is a simple problem but yet I have forgotten how to solve since school days .

The problem is :

(x/6) = (x/2) - (4/3)

The explanation to the answer is:

(x/6) = (x/2) - (4/3)	/ Find a common denominator.
(2x/12) = (6x/12) - (16/12)	/ Multiply both sides by 12
2x = 6x - 16	/ Subtract 6x from each side.
-4x = -16	/ Divide each side by -4.
x = -16/-4
x = 4

Sorry I don't understand the explanation. Where is the 16 from?

Thanks

 

[JeffM]

Hi,

Apologies this is a simple problem but yet I have forgotten how to solve since school days .

The problem is :

(x/6) = (x/2) - (4/3)

The explanation to the answer is:

(x/6) = (x/2) - (4/3)	/ Find a common denominator.
(2x/12) = (6x/12) - (16/12)	/ Multiply both sides by 12
2x = 6x - 16	/ Subtract 6x from each side.
-4x = -16	/ Divide each side by -4.
x = -16/-4
x = 4

Sorry I don't understand the explanation. Where is the 16 from?

Thanks

\(\displaystyle \dfrac{x}{6} = \dfrac{x}{2} - \dfrac{4}{3}.\)

I have no idea why they suggest multiplying by 12. It's easier and just as effective to multiply by 6. In any case, here is a step by step following their suggestion.

\(\displaystyle \dfrac{x}{6} = \dfrac{x}{2} - \dfrac{4}{3} \implies 12 * \dfrac{x}{6} = 12 * \left(\dfrac{x}{2} - \dfrac{4}{3}\right).\) Multiplying both sides of the equation by 12 as suggested.

\(\displaystyle 12 * \dfrac{x}{6} = 12 * \left(\dfrac{x}{2} - \dfrac{4}{3}\right) \implies \dfrac{12x}{6} = \dfrac{12x}{2} - \dfrac{12 * 4}{3}\)

\(\displaystyle \implies 2x = 6x - \dfrac{48}{3}\)

\(\displaystyle \implies 2x = 6x - 16\)

\(\displaystyle \implies 2x + 16 = 6x - 16 + 16\)

\(\displaystyle \implies 2x + 16 = 6x\)

\(\displaystyle \implies 6x = 2x + 16\)

\(\displaystyle \implies - 2x + 6x = - 2x + 2x + 16\)

\(\displaystyle \implies 6x - 2x = 16\)

\(\displaystyle \implies 4x = 16\)

\(\displaystyle \implies \dfrac{4x}{4} = \dfrac{16}{4}\)

\(\displaystyle \implies x = 4.\)

 

[HallsofIvy]

You have the equation \(\displaystyle \frac{x}{6}= \frac{x}{2}- \frac{4}{3}\)
A common denominator, a number evenly divisible by 6, 2, and 3, is 12.
(Actually, the least common denominator is 6.)

Multiplying both sides of the equation by 12 gives
\(\displaystyle \frac{x}{6}(12)= \frac{x}{2}(12)- \frac{4}{3}(12)\)
12/6= 2 so \(\displaystyle \frac{x}{6}(12)= 2x\)
12/2= 6 so \(\displaystyle \frac{x}{2}(12)= 6x\)
12/3= 4 so \(\displaystyle \frac{4}{3}(12)= 4(4)= 16\)

2x= 6x- 16. Subtracting 6x from both sides gives -4x= -16 so x= -16/-4= 4.

As I pointed out above, the least common denominator is 6, also evenly divisible by 6, 2, and 3.
If we multiplied both sides of the equation by 6 instead of 12, we get
\(\displaystyle \frac{x}{6}(6)= \frac{x}{2}(6)- \frac{4}{3}(6)\)
6/6= 1 so \(\displaystyle \frac{x}{6}(6)= x\)
6/2= 3 so \(\displaystyle \frac{x}{2}(6)= 3x\)
6/3= 2 so \(\displaystyle \frac{4}{3}(6)= 2(4)= 8\)

x= 3x- 8. Subtracting 3x from both sides gives -2x= -8 so x= -8/-2= 4 again.

That's how I would have done the problem.

Hah-Hah! I beat Denis by four minutes.

 

[AnonProxy]

Thanks

Thanks this was very helpful.