Question

Three-fourths of a number is 7/8. How do you find the number in lowest terms?

Answer 1

See the enter solution process below:

Explanation:

First, let's call the number we are looking for `n`/

In this problem the word "of" means to multiply or times.

"three fourths of a number is 7/8" can then be rewritten as:

`3/4 xx n = 7/8`

We can now solve for `n` by multiplying each side of the equation by `color(red)(4)/color(blue)(3)` while keeping the equation balanced:

`color(red)(4)/color(blue)(3) xx 3/4 xx n = color(red)(4)/color(blue)(3) xx 7/8`

`cancel(color(red)(4))/cancel(color(blue)(3)) xx color(blue)(cancel(color(black)(3)))/color(red)(cancel(color(black)(4))) xx n = color(red)(4)/color(blue)(3) xx 7/(4 xx 2)`

`n = cancel(color(red)(4))/color(blue)(3) xx 7/(color(red)(cancel(color(black)(4))) xx 2)`

`n = 7/(3 xx 2)`

`n = 7/6`