How do you solve x-3/4=-9/10 by clearing the fractions?

1 Answer
Apr 3, 2017

See the entire solution process below:

Explanation:

First, multiply each side of the equation by color(red)(20) (the LCD of both fractions) to eliminate the fractions while keeping the equation balanced:

color(red)(20)(x - 3/4) = color(red)(20) xx -9/10

(color(red)(20) xx x) - (color(red)(20) xx 3/4) = cancel(color(red)(20))2 xx -9/color(red)(cancel(color(black)(10)))

20x - (cancel(color(red)(20))5 xx 3/color(red)(cancel(color(black)(4)))) = -18

20x - 15 = -18

Next, add color(red)(15) to each side of the equation to isolate the x term while keeping the equation balanced:

20x - 15 + color(red)(15) = -18 + color(red)(15)

20x - 0 = -3

20x = -3

Now, divide each side of the equation by color(red)(20) to solve for x while keeping the equation balanced:

(20x)/color(red)(20) = -3/color(red)(20)

(color(red)(cancel(color(black)(20)))x)/cancel(color(red)(20)) = -3/20

x = -3/20