Question #91885

3 Answers
Feb 5, 2015

I am assuming the problem is 1/2 x + 2/5 = 1 y/(6y) + 8/5

The first step would be to simply 1 y/(6y) to 1 1/6

Then I would change the mixed number to a fraction.

x/2 + 2/5 = (7)/(6) +8/5

To clear the fractions in this equation you will need to find the least common multiple for each of the fractions (in this cast 30) and multiply each term by it.

I would multiply each side of the equation by 30.

30(x/2 +2/5) = 30((7)/(6) + 8/5)

Then I would use the distributive property and multiply each term and then simplify the expressions.

(30x)/2 + (60)/5 = (210)/(6) + (240)/5

15x + 12 = 35 + 48

15x + 12 = 83

15x + 12 - 12 = 83 - 12

15x = 71

x = 71/15 or 4 11/15

and y can be an number since it cancels out

Jul 15, 2016

Assuming that the two equations in the question are
1/2x+2/5=y ......(1)
1/6y+8/5=-x ......(2)
First step is to multiply each equation with the LCM of denominators of all the terms in that equation so as to get rid of the fractions.
Next step is to bring all unknowns to the LHS and constants on the RHS

For (1) we see that LCM of the denominators of its three terms, 2,5 and 1 is 10. Equation (1) becomes
10xx(1/2x+2/5=y)
=>5x+4=10y
=>5x-10y=-4 .....(3)

Similarly for equation (2)
30xx(1/6y+8/5=-x)
=>5y+48=-30x
=>30x+5y=-48 .....(4)
Solve (3) and (4) for the unknown x and y

To eliminate y multiply (4) by 2 and add to (3) we get
5x+60x=-4-96
=>65x=-100
=>x=-100/65=-20/13
Inserting this value in (3)
5xx(-20/13)-10y=-4
=>-100/13-10y=-4
=>-10y=-4+100/13
=>-10y=48/13
=>y=-48/130

Feb 22, 2018

x = -1 and y = -1/10

Explanation:

Luckily with equations, you can change the form into into one which suits you.

Do anything you like as long as you do the same thing to both sides. Multiply by the LCM to cancel the denominators

1/2x+2/5 =y" "larrmultiply both sides by 10

(cancel10^5xx1x)/cancel2 + (cancel10^2xx2)/cancel5 = 10xxy

5x+4 = 10y" "larr there are no fractions.

5x-10y = -4" "larr re-arranged

6y +8/5 =-x" "larr multiply both sides by 5

5xx6y + (cancel5xx8)/cancel5 = 5xx -x

30y +8=-5x

5x +30y = -8" "larr re=arranged

Now you have two equations which are both in a better form and we can solve them simultaneously:

color(white)(wwwww)5x-10y = -4color(white)(wwwwwww)A
color(white)(wwwww)5x +30y = -8color(white)(wwww.w.w)B

B-A:color(white)(ww.w)40y =-4
color(white)(wwwwww.ww.)y =-4/40
color(white)(wwwwww..ww)y =-1/10

Substitute y = -1/10 in A

color(white)(wwwwwww)5x+4 = 10y
color(white)(wwwwwww)5x+4 = 10(-1/10)
color(white)(wwwwwwww.w)5x = -1-4
color(white)(wwwwwwww.w)5x = -5
color(white)(wwwwwwww.w)x = -1