# How do you solve 5/13 - 2x = -8/13?

Jul 27, 2015

Isolate $x$ on one side of the equation.

#### Explanation:

In order to solve this equation, you have to isolate $x$ on one side of the equation.

You can do that by adding $- \frac{5}{13}$ to both sides of the equation to get

$\textcolor{red}{\cancel{\textcolor{b l a c k}{- \frac{5}{13}}}} + \textcolor{red}{\cancel{\textcolor{b l a c k}{\frac{5}{13}}}} - 2 x = - \frac{8}{13} - \frac{5}{13}$

-2x = (-8 - 5)/13 = -color(red)(cancel(color(black)(13)))/(color(red)(cancel(color(black)(13)))

$- 2 x = - 1$

Finally, divide both sides of the equation by $- 2$ to get

$\frac{\textcolor{red}{\cancel{\textcolor{b l a c k}{- 2}}} \cdot x}{\textcolor{red}{\cancel{\textcolor{b l a c k}{- 2}}}} = \frac{- 1}{- 2}$

$x = \textcolor{g r e e n}{\frac{1}{2}}$

Jul 27, 2015

color(blue)(x=1/2

#### Explanation:

5/13−2x=−8/13
Here, the L.C.M is $13$

5/13−((2x)*13)/13=−8/13

5/cancel13−(26x)/cancel13=−8/cancel13

$5 - 26 x = - 8$

$5 + 8 = 26 x$

$13 = 26 x$

color(blue)(x=1/2