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Solve for x: 2/5=4/x

2 Answers

9 votes
The answer is 10


Explanation: First you cross-multiply to get 2x=20 and then divide by 2 to get x=10
User Baba Yaga
by
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5 votes

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Answer:

x = 10

Explanation:

Using your number sense, you recognize that a fraction equivalent to 2/5 that has 4 in the numerator is 4/10. This tells you x = 10.

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The usual instructions for solving this algebraically are to "cross multiply", then divide by the coefficient of x.

2/5 = 4/x . . . . given

2x = 20 . . . . . multiply by 5x on both sides

x = 10 . . . . . . . divide by 2

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You can do the above two steps both at once: multiply by 5/2x.

(2/5)(5/2x) = (4/x)(5/2x)

x = 20/2 = 10

User Jason Silberman
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3.3k points