Question

How do you solve an equation with a fraction and coefficient that are next to eachother such as the one in the picture?

Answer 1

See below

Explanation:

Hi there!

We want to solve for c (find the value of c) in 15=
`(3)/(8)c-18`

To do that, isolate 1c (also written as c) on one side.

We can add 18 to both sides to remove it from the right side

15=
`(3)/(8)c`-18

+18 +18

_______________

33=
`(3)/(8)c`

You want to know how to solve an equation where the coefficient of a term is a fraction

Remember that we want to find the value of 1c.

Multiplying a fraction by its reciprocal (the 'flipped' version of that fraction) will give 1.

For example, multiplying
`(2)/(5)` by
`(5)/(2)` (the reciprocal of
`(2)/(5)`) will give:

`(2)/(5) * (5)/(2)=(10)/(10)=1`

So therefore, we should multiply both sides by the reciprocal of
`(3)/(8)`, which would be
`(8)/(3)`

Therefore,

`(8)/(3) * 33=(3)/(8)c * (8)/(3)`

Multiply

`(264)/(3)`=
`(24)/(24)c`

Simplify the fractions

88=c

Hope this helps!