How do you solve #-\frac { 1} { 2} = \frac { 2} { 3} y - \frac { 4} { 7}#?

1 Answer
Mar 1, 2017

#y = 3/28#

Explanation:

#-\frac { 1} { 2} = \frac { 2} { 3} y - \frac { 4} { 7}#

As soon as you have an EQUATION with fractions, you can get rid of the denominators immediately.

Multiply each term by the LCM of the denominators.
In this case it is #42#

#(color(blue)(42xx)-1)/2 = (color(blue)(42xx)2)/3y -(color(blue)(42xx)4)/7" "larr# cancel

#(cancel(42)^21 xx-1)/cancel2 = (cancel(42)^14xx2)/cancel3y -(cancel(42)^6xx4)/cancel7#

#-21 =28y -24" "larr# add 24 to both sides

#-21 +24 = 28y-24+24#

#3 = 28y#

#3/28 = y#