How do you solve \frac { 29} { 62} = \frac { a } { 39}?

3 Answers
Jan 12, 2018

a=18.24

Explanation:

Use the butterfly method. Just multiply the numbers and you'll get this:

62a=1131

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Jan 12, 2018

18 15/62 or 18.24 to the nearest 2 decimal places

Explanation:

29/62=a/39

:.a/39=29/62

multiply both sides by39

:.a=29/62xx39/1

:.a=1131/62

:.a=18 15/62 or 18.24 to the nearest 2 decimal places.

Jan 12, 2018

a=1131/62

A lot of detail given (first principle method) so you can see where everything comes from. Short cut principles are just remembering the consequence of first principles.

Explanation:

color(blue)("Preamble")

We need a on its own on one side of the equals and everything else on the other side.

So we need to 'get rid' of the 39 on the right.

We do this by changing it to 1.

1 times anything does not change the value and this process end up with the 39 on the other side of the equals.
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color(blue)("Answering the question")

Given: 29/62=a/39

Write as: 29/62=axx1/39

Multiply both sides by 39

29/62xx39=axx1/39xx39

(29xx39)/62=axx39/39

But 39/39 is just another way of writing 1

(29xx39)/62=axx1

Swap everything round the other way (convention)

a=(29xx39)/62

a=1131/62