How do you simplify #\frac{1}{3}x+2=\frac{1}{2}x-1#?

3 Answers
Jul 7, 2018

Multiply by 6

#2x+12=3x-6#

Subtract #2x#

#12=x-6#

Add6

#x=18#

Jul 7, 2018

#x=18#

Explanation:

Given: #1/3x+2=1/2x-1#.

Subtract #2# from both sides.

#1/3x=1/2x-1-2#

#1/3x=1/2x-3#

Multiply both sides by the greatest common factor #(bb(GCF))# of the denominators, which is #2*3=6#.

#6(1/3x)=6(1/2x-3)#

#2x=3x-18#

Subtract #3x# from both sides.

#2x-3x=-18#

#-x=-18#

Multiplying both sides by #-1# yields:

#:.x=18#

Jul 7, 2018

#x=18#

Explanation:

We can get rid of the fractions by multiplying by the LCM of the denominators, which happens to be #6#.

We now have

#2x+12=3x-6#

Let's subtract #12# from both sides to get

#2x=3x-18#

Next, we can subtract #3x# from both sides. We now have

#-x=-18#

Lastly, we can divide both sides by #-1# to get

#x=18#

Hope this helps!