Question

How do you solve `\frac { 3} { 40} = \frac { 5} { x }`?

Answer 1

See a solution process below:

Explanation:

Step 1) Multiply each side of the equation by `color(red)(40)color(blue)(x)` to eliminate the fractions while keeping the equation balanced:

`color(red)(40)color(blue)(x) xx 3/40 = color(red)(40)color(blue)(x) xx 5/x`

`cancel(color(red)(40))color(blue)(x) xx 3/color(red)(cancel(color(black)(40))) = color(red)(40)cancel(color(blue)(x)) xx 5/color(blue)(cancel(color(black)(x)))`

`3x = 200`

Step 2) Divide each side of the equation by `color(red)(3)` to solve for `x` while keeping the equation balanced:

`(3x)/color(red)(3) = 200/color(red)(3)`

`(color(red)(cancel(color(black)(3)))x)/cancel(color(red)(3)) = 200/3`

`x = 200/3`