How do you solve #-5\frac { 2} { 3} - \frac { 3} { 4} b = - 4\frac { 5} { 12}#?

3 Answers
Nov 4, 2017

#b=-1 2/3#

Explanation:

#color(blue)(-5 2/3-3/4 b=-4 5/12#

First of all, simplify all of the mixed fractions (in the form of #x y/z#)

#rarr-17/3-3/4b=-53/12#

#rarr-3/4b=-53/12+17/3#

#rarr-3/4b=(-53+68)/12#

#rarr-3/4b=15/12#

#rarrb=cancel15^5/cancel12^3xx-cancel4^1/cancel3^1#

#color(green)(rArrb=-5/3=-1 2/3#

Hope that helps!!! ☺♠☻

Nov 4, 2017

# b = -1(2/3)#

Explanation:

Convert the individual terms to improper fractions.
#-17/3 -(3b)/4 = -(53)/12#
Taking 12 as L C M for L H S,
#(-68-9b)/cancel (12) = -53/cancel(12)#
#-9b = 68-53#
#b = -(15)/9 = -5/3 = -1(2/3)#

Nov 4, 2017

#b = -5/3#

Explanation:

Change all the fractions to improper fractions first:

#-5 2/3 -3/4b= -4 5/12#

#(-17)/3 -(3b)/4 = (-53)/12#

To get rid of the fractions, multiply each term by the LCD of the denominators (which is #12#)

#(-17color(blue)(xx12))/3 -(3bcolor(blue)(xx12))/4 = (-53color(blue)(xx12))/12#

Cancel the denominators and simplify

#(-17color(blue)(xxcancel12^4))/cancel3 -(3bcolor(blue)(xxcancel12^3))/cancel4 = (-53color(blue)(xxcancel12))/cancel12#

#-68 -9b = -53#

#-68+53 = 9b#

#" "-15 =9b#

# -15/9 =b#

#b = -5/3#