How do you solve #3.4/x=2.17/7.7#?

3 Answers
Aug 12, 2016

x = 12.06

Explanation:

Multiply both sides by 7.7 to remove it on the right side of the equation:

#7.7xx3.4/x=2.17/cancel7.7xxcancel7.7#

Multiply 7.7 and 3.4 together to get a value of 26.18:

#26.18/x = 2.17#

Divide 26.18 by 2.17 to get x by itself:

#26.18/2.17 =x#

#x = 12.06#

Aug 12, 2016

#x~~12#

Explanation:

Solve for #x#: #3.4/x=2.17/7.7#

Cross multiply.

#3.4xx7.7=2.17x#

Simplify.

#26.18=2.17x#

Divide both sides by #2.17#.

#26.18/2.17=(cancel2.17x)/cancel2.17#

#12.064516129032=x#

Switch sides.

#x=12.064516129032~~12# (rounded to two significant figures, or round to the number of digits your instructor requires)

Aug 12, 2016

There's another way to do this that doesn't require cross-multiplying.

Reciprocate both sides:

#3.4/x = 2.17/7.7#

#-> x/3.4 = 7.7/2.17#

Now simply multiply by #3.4# on both sides to get #x#.

#color(blue)(x) = (3.4*7.7)/2.17#

# ~~ color(blue)(12.06)#