Question

How do you solve `s + 9/10 = 1/2`?

Answer 1

See the entire solution process below:

Explanation:

First, multiply each side of the equation by `color(red)(10)` to eliminate the fractions while keeping the equation balanced:

`color(red)(10)(s + 9/10) = color(red)(10) xx 1/2`

`(color(red)(10) xx s) + (color(red)(10) xx 9/10) = cancel(color(red)(10)) 5 xx 1/color(red)(cancel(color(black)(2)))`

`10s + (cancel(color(red)(10)) xx 9/color(red)(cancel(color(black)(10)))) = 5`

`10s + 9 = 5`

Next, subtract `color(red)(9)` from each side of the equation to isolate the `s` term while keeping the equation balanced:

`10s + 9 - color(red)(9) = 5 - color(red)(9)`

`10s + 0 = -4`

`10s = -4`

Now, divide each side of the equation by `color(red)(10)` to solve for `s` while keeping the equation balanced:

`(10s)/color(red)(10) = -4/color(red)(10)`

`(color(red)(cancel(color(black)(10)))s)/cancel(color(red)(10)) = -2/5`

`s = -2/5`