How do you solve #\frac { x } { 5} - \frac { 2} { 15} = \frac { x } { 3}#?

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Answer 1 · 2017-12-30T02:49:52

#x=-1#

#x/5-2/15=x/3#

#(3x)/15-2/15=(5x)/15#

#(3x-2)/15=(5x)/15#

#3x-2=5x#

#-2x-2=0#

#-2x=2#

#x=-2/2=-1#

Answer 2 · 2017-12-30T10:06:15

#x=-1#

When solving an equation which has fractions, you can get rid of the fractions immediately by multiplying each term by the LCM of the denominators,

In this case: #LCD = 15#

#(15xx x)/5 -(15 xx2)/15 = (15 xx x)/3" "larr xx 15#

#(cancel15^3xx x)/cancel5 -(cancel15 xx2)/cancel15 = (cancel15^5 xx x)/cancel3" "larr# cancel

#3x-2 =5x#

#-2 = 5x-3x#

#-2 = 2x#

#-1 =x#