How do you solve \frac { x - 1} { 3} + \frac { 2x + 1} { 5} = \frac { 3x - 1} { 4}?

2 Answers

x = 7

Explanation:

To solve this the first thing to do is make the equation simpler by eliminating the fractions. We can do this by multiplying each side of the equation by a common denominator, in this case 3 * 5 * 4 = 60. This will eliminate the fractions and keep the equation balanced:

color(red)(60)(((x-1))/3 + ((2x + 1))/5) = color(red)(60)((3x - 1))/4

(cancel60^20 * (x-1)/cancel3) + (cancel60^12 * ((2x + 1))/5) = cancel60^15((3x - 1))/4

20(x - 1) + 12(2x + 1) = 15(3x - 1)

We can now expand the terms within parenthesis, group and combine like terms on each side of the equation:

20x - 20 + 24x + 12 = 45x - 15

20x + 24x - 20 + 12 = 45x - 15

(20 + 24)x - 8 = 45x - 15

44x - 8 = 45x - 15

Now we can isolate the x terms on one side of the equation and the constants on the other side of the equation:

44x - 8 color(red)( - 44x + 15) = 45x - 15 color(red)( - 44x + 15)

44x - 44x - 8 + 15 = 45x - 44x - 15 + 15

0 - 8 + 15 = 45x - 44x - 0

-8 + 15 = 45x - 44x

7 = (45 - 44)x

7 = x

x = 7

Jan 1, 2017

x=7

Explanation:

(x-1)/3+(2x+1)/5=(3x-1)/4

multiply both sides by 3

x-1+3(2x+1)/5=3(3x-1)/4

multiply both sides by 5

5(x-1)+3(2x+1)=15(3x-1)/4

multiply both sides by 4

20(x-1)+12(2x+1)=15(3x-1)

20x-20+24x+12=45x-15

20x+24x-45x=-15+20-12

-x=-7

multiply both sides by -1

x=7

substitute x =7

((7)-1)/3+(2(7)+1)/5=((3)(7)-1)/4

2+3=20/4

5=5