Question

Which number can each term of the equation be multiplied by to eliminate the decimals before solving?

–m + 0.02 + 2.1m = –1.45 – 4.81m

0.01

Answer 1

Multiply by 100

Explanation:

The equation is given as:

-m + 0.02 + 2.1m = -1.45 - 4.81m

To eliminate the decimals from all the terms, we must multiply by a number that make all the coefficients integers.

The decimal coefficients and independent terms are

0.02, 2.1, 1.45, 4.81

Note the maximum number of decimals found in all of them is 2. Thus, multiplying by 100 all the decimals will vanish as follows:

100(-m + 0.02 + 2.1m) = 100(-1.45 - 4.81m)

-100m + 2 + 210m = -145 - 481m

Now all terms have integer coefficients as required.

Answer: Multiply by 100