Answer:
x = -6 and x = 1
Explanation:
It's a little easier to see what must be done here if you write this problem as:
3
(1/2)x = -------------
x + 5
Multiply both sides by 2 to eliminate the fraction 1/2:
6
x = ---------------------
x + 5
Now cross multiply: we get x(x + 5) = 6, or:
x^2 + 5x - 6 = 0, or
(x + 6)(x - 1) = 0, so that x = -6 and x = 1. Both are valid answers, as the given expression is true if you substitute these x-values one at a time