How do you solve #3:12 = x:16#?
1 Answer
Jul 26, 2016
x = 4
Explanation:
We can express the ratios as fractions.
#rArr3/12=x/16# Solve for x by
#color(blue)"cross-multiplication"#
#color(red)(3)/color(blue)(12)=color(blue)(x)/color(red)(16)# multiply the same colours across (X) the fraction.
#rArrcolor(blue)(12x)=color(red)(3xx16)=color(red)(48)# now we have to solve : 12x = 48
divide both sides by 12
#(cancel(12)^1x)/cancel(12)^1=cancel(48)^4/cancel(12)^1rArrx=4# That is 3:12 = 4:16 = 1:4 'in simplest form'