Question

How do you solve `frac { 8} { x } = 160`?

Answer 1

See some solution processes below

Explanation:

Process 1)

Multiply each side of the equation by `color(red)(x)/color(blue)(160)` to solve for `x` while keeping the equation balanced:

`color(red)(x)/color(blue)(160) xx 8/x = color(red)(x)/color(blue)(160) xx 160`

`cancel(color(red)(x))/(cancel(color(blue)(160))20) xx color(blue)(cancel(color(black)(8)))/color(red)(cancel(color(black)(x))) = color(red)(x)/cancel(color(blue)(160)) xx color(blue)(cancel(color(black)(160)))`

`1/20 = x`

`x = 1/20`

Process 2)

First, rewrite the equation as:

`8/x = 160/1`

Because both sides of the equation are pure fractions we can flip the fractions giving:

`x/8 = 1/160`

Now, multiply each side of the equation by `color(red)(8)` to solve for `x` while keeping the equation balanced:

`color(red)(8) xx x/8 = color(red)(8) xx 1/160`

`cancel(color(red)(8)) xx x/color(red)(cancel(color(black)(8))) = cancel(color(red)(8)) xx 1/(color(red)(cancel(color(black)(160)))20)`

`x = 1/20`

Answer 2

The easiest way...

Explanation:

`8/x=160`

The easiest way to solve this, is to start with cross multiply

`160 * x = 8`

`160x = 8`

Divide both sides by `160`

`(160x)/160 = 8/160`

`x=1/20`

Or if you want the decimal, `x=0.05`