Final answer:
To simplify the equation and solve for the variable, multiply both sides of the equation by the denominator to undo the division. This transforms the fraction into a whole number, making the equation easier to solve.
Step-by-step explanation:
When solving an equation with a fraction, it is a common and necessary step to eliminate the denominator in order to simplify the equation and solve for the variable. To undo division by the denominator, we must multiply both sides of the equation by that denominator. This operation should be applied to each term, ensuring that the equation remains balanced. By multiplying both sides by the denominator, any fraction on that side of the equation becomes a whole number, which is generally easier to work with when solving for the variable.
Once you have multiplied by the denominator and simplified the expression, the next steps typically involve isolating the variable and solving the equation as you would a simpler, non-fractional equation. Remember that multiplying fractions involves multiplying the numerators (top numbers) and multiplying the denominators (bottom numbers), and that multiplying by a number is the same as dividing by its reciprocal.