How do you solve #\frac { w } { 3} + \frac { 2} { 5} = \frac { 1} { 15}#?

1 Answer
Hubert
Nov 19, 2016

#w=-1#

Explanation:

You need to find the (lowest) common denominator and since #3# and #5# are primes and #15=3 cdot 5# we have #"LCD"(3,5,15)=15#. We multiply both sides of the equation by #15#:
$$15\cdot \frac { w } { 3} +15\cdot \frac { 2} { 5} =15\cdot \frac { 1} { 15}$$
$$5w+3 \cdot 2=1$$
$$5w+6=1$$
$$5w=1-6$$
$$5w=-5$$
$$w=-1$$

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