Final answer:
To solve x/6 - x/7 = ab, find the common denominator, simplify, and then isolate x by multiplying both sides of the equation by the common denominator. The solution is x = 42ab. Always check your answer to ensure it satisfies the original equation.
Step-by-step explanation:
To solve the equation x/6 - x/7 = ab, one must find a common denominator for the fractions. In this case, the common denominator is 42 because 6 and 7 are both factors of 42. By converting both fractions to have the denominator of 42, we have:(7x/42) - (6x/42) = ab
This simplifies to x/42 = ab, since 7x - 6x is x. Now, multiply both sides by 42 to get x = 42ab.
If we want to solve the equation for a variable other than x, such as y, we might need to return b to denominator status, which implies that we need to divide both sides by b if b represents a multiplication factor for y.
It's also important to confirm that our manipulations haven't altered the value of the equation, which can be done by checking the answer at the end to ensure it is reasonable and satisfies the original equation.