Question

How do you solve `x/5 = (x+3)/8`?

Answer 1

`x = 5`

Explanation:

The first step in solving this problem is called cross-multiplying; we multiply the numerator of the first fraction by the denominator of the second, and the numerator of the second by the denominator of the first. In this case, we multiply `x` with `8`, and `5` with `x+3`:

`5(x+3) = 8*x` (cross-multiplying)
`5x+15 = 8x` (distributing the `5`, simplifying `8*x`)
`15 = 3x` (subtracting `5x` from both sides)
`5 = x` (dividing by `3` to find `x`)

And there we go - our answer is `x = 5`.