How do you solve # 1/8x= -3#?

2 Answers
Jun 27, 2015

See the explanation below.

Explanation:

Solve #1/8x=-3# .

Simplify #1/8x# to #x/8# .

#x/8=-3#

Multiply both sides times #8#.

#(x(8))/8=-3(8)#

Cancel the #8#.

#(xcancel(8))/cancel8=-3(8)# =

#x=-24#

Jun 27, 2015

Multiply both sides of the equation by #8# to find: #x = -24#

Explanation:

Multiply both sides of the equation by #8#.

The left hand side becomes:

#8 * 1/8x = (8*1/8)*x = 1*x = x#

The right hand side becomes:

#8 * -3 = -24#

So #x = -24#

In general you can do any of the following to an equation and preserve its truth:

(1) Add or subtract the same value on both sides.
(2) Multiply or divide by the same non-zero value on both sides.