Question

How do you solve `\frac { 20} { x } = \frac { 15} { 12}`?

Answer 1

given,

`20/x =15/12` or, `x= 20(12/15)=16`

Answer 2

See a solution process below:

Explanation:

Both both sides of the equation are pure fractions we can flip the fractions and solve for `x`:

`x/20 = 12/15`

Multiply each side of the equation by `color(red)(20)` to solve for `x` while keeping the equation balanced:

`color(red)(20) xx x/20 = color(red)(20) xx 12/15`

`cancel(color(red)(20)) xx x/color(red)(cancel(color(black)(20))) = (color(red)(4 xx 5)) xx (4 xx 3)/(5 xx 3)`

`x = (color(red)(4 xx color(black)(cancel(color(red)(5))))) xx (4 xx color(blue)(cancel(color(black)(3))))/(color(red)(cancel(color(black)(5))) xx color(blue)(cancel(color(black)(3))))`

`x = color(red)(4) xx 4`

`x = 16`

Answer 3

`x=16`

Explanation:

First we multiply by x.
`20cancel(/xcolor(red)(*x))=15/12color(red)(*x)`
`20=15/12*x`
Than we multiply by `12/15`.
`cancel(20)color(blue)(4)color(red)(*12/(cancel(15)color(blue)(3)))=x*cancel(15/12color(red)(*12/15))`
Simplify the expression.
`(4*cancel(12)color(blue)(4))/(cancel(3)color(blue)(1))=x`
`16=x`