How do you solve \frac { 8} { x - 5} = \frac { 6} { x + 9}?

1 Answer
May 15, 2017

Cross multiplication, then solve.
Answer: x=-51

Explanation:

Solve 8/(x-5)=6/(x+9)

First, we can cross multiply to get the variables out of the denominators:
8(x+9)=6(x-5)

We can use the distributive property:
8x+72=6x-30

Now, we subtract 6x from both sides and subtract 72 from both sides and simplify:
8x+72-6x-72=6x-30-6x-72
2x=-102

Finally, we divide both sides by 2 to isolate the x:
x=-51