How do you simplify #\frac { 9} { a } = \frac { 8} { a - 3}#?

1 Answer
Nov 13, 2016

#a = 27#

Explanation:

First you'd like to eliminate the denominators by cross multiplying them:

#9(a - 3) = 8(a)#

Multiply the brackets:

#9a - 27 = 8a#

Collect like terms:

#a - 27 = 0#

Add 27 to both sides to isolate #a#:

#a = 27#