Question

How do you solve `3/a=1/6`?

Answer 1

See the entire solution process below:

Explanation:

To solve this multiple each side of the equation by `color(red)(6)color(blue(a)` to isolate `a` and keep the equation balanced:

`color(red)(6)color(blue)(a) xx 3/a = color(red)(6)color(blue)(a) xx 1/6`

`color(red)(6)cancel(color(blue)(a)) xx 3/color(blue)(cancel(color(black)(a))) = cancel(color(red)(6))color(blue)(a) xx 1/color(red)(cancel(color(black)(6)))`

`color(red)(6) xx 3 = color(blue)(a) xx 1`

`18 = a`

`a = 18`