Question

How do you solve `\frac { ( b + 1) } { 2} = \frac { ( b - 2) } { 5}`?

Answer 1

`b=-3`

Explanation:

Multiply both sides by 2 and both sides by 5 to get: `5(b+1) = 2(b-2)`

Then expand the brackets: `5b+5 = 2b-4`

Then take all unknowns to one side, and all constant to the other to give: `5b - 2b = -4 -5`

Then simplify: `3b = -9`

Then divide both sides by 3: `b = -9/3`

The answer can then be simplified to: `b = -3`.

To check, substitute `b = -3` into both sides to see if they are the same: `((-3+1))/2 = -1` and `((-3-2))/5 = -1`

Both answers are `-1` so it is correct.

Hope this helps!