Question

(m-3)/(7)=(m)/(m+8) Solve the proportion.

Answer 1

Answer: m=6, m=-4

Explanation:

To solve this proportion, we have to cross multiply.

`(m-3)/(7) =(m)/(m+8)`

`(m-3)(m+8)=7m`

Now that we have cross multiplied, we actually need to FOIL the left side to expand the equation.

`m^2+8m-3m-24=7m`

Combine like terms.

`m^2+5m-24=7m`

We can move all terms to one side and then solve for m.

`m^2-2m-24=0`

We can actually factor this to:

`(m-6)(m+4)=0`

We set each factor equal to 0 to find m.

m-6=0

m=6

m+4=0

m=-4