Question

How do you solve `-3/(4x) + 3/8 = 27/32`?

Answer 1

`x = -1.6`

Explanation:

`-3/(4x) + 3/8 = 27/32`
`-3/(4x) = 27/32- 3/8`
`-3/(4x) = 27/32 - 12/32`
`-3/(4x) = 15/32`
By cross-multiplication:
`4x*15 = -3*32`
`60x = -96`
`x = -96/60`
`x = -1.6`

Answer 2

`x=-8/5`

Explanation:

Before we do anything, we need to get a common denominator of `32`.

`-3/4x=-24/32x` (multiplying top and bottom by 8)

`3/8=12/32` (multiplying top and bottom by 4)

`27/32` will stay the same

Thus, we have

`-24/32x+12/32=27/32`

We can subtract `12/32` from both sides to get

`-24/32x=15/32`

We can cross multiply to get:

`x=(-24*cancel32)/(cancel32*15)`

Since the `32`s will cancel, we're left with:

`(-24)/(15)`

Which can be simplified to `x=-8/5`