How do you solve #\frac{y-7}{y-8}=\frac{1}{y-8}#?

1 Answer
Jul 20, 2017

See a solution below:

Explanation:

First, multiply each side of the equation by #color(red)(y - 8)# to eliminate the fractions while keeping the equation balanced:

#color(red)(y - 8) xx (y - 7)/(y - 8) = color(red)(y - 8) xx 1/(y - 8)#

#cancel(color(red)(y - 8)) xx (y - 7)/color(red)(cancel(color(black)(y - 8))) = cancel(color(red)(y - 8)) xx 1/color(red)(cancel(color(black)(y - 8)))#

#y - 7 = 1#

Next, add #color(red)(7)# to each side of the equation to solve for #y# while keeping the equation balanced:

#y - 7 + color(red)(7) = 1 + color(red)(7)#

#y - 0 = 8#

#y = 8#

However, this solution is excluded because: #(8 - 8) = 0# in each of the denominators which means we would be dividing by #0# which is not allowed.

Therefore, there is no solution to this equation. Or, the solution is the null or empty set: #{O/}#