How do you solve #x+ \frac { 1} { 2} x = 15#?

2 Answers
Dec 23, 2016

#x = 10#

Explanation:

First, multiply each side of the equation by #color(red)(2)# to eliminate the fraction and keep the equation balanced. Eliminating the fraction will make the equation easier to work with:

#color(red)(2)(x + 1/2x) = color(red)(2) * 15#

#2x + 1x = 30#

We can now combine the #x# terms:

#(2 + 1)x = 30#

#3x = 30#

Finally we can solve for #x# while keeping the equation balanced by dividing each side of the equation by #3#:

#(3x)/color(red)(3) = 30/color(red)(3)#

#(color(red)(cancel(color(black)(3)))x)/cancel(color(red)(3)) = 10#

#x = 10#

Dec 23, 2016

You may have seen the answer right away:

Explanation:

#1 1/2 x=1 1/2 xx10->x+10#

But if you haven't, here's the long way:

#->3/2x=15-> cancel2xx3/cancel2x=2xx15#

#->3x=30->x=30/3=10#