Question

Determine which of the values below could be used to clear fractions in the equation.11/15x-7/20=-2

Answer 1

We have to solve for x:

`(11)/(15)x-(7)/(20)=-2`

To solve we start by grouping the independent terms together (the terms that do not depend on x):

`\begin{gathered} (11)/(15)x=-2+(7)/(20) \\ (11)/(15)x=(-2\cdot20+7)/(20) \\ (11)/(15)x=(-40+7)/(20) \\ (11)/(15)x=(-33)/(20) \end{gathered}`

Now, we can multiply both sides by 15/11 in order to clear x:

`\begin{gathered} (11)/(15)x\cdot(15)/(11)=-(33)/(20)\cdot(15)/(11) \\ x=-(33)/(11)\cdot(15)/(20) \\ x=-3\cdot(3)/(4) \\ x=-(9)/(4) \end{gathered}`

Answer: x = -9/4