you add 5 to the right side.
so you have 2/x=1/x+7
2/x-1/x=7
1/x=7
x=1/7
the answer is x=1/7.
i think your teacher's wrong.
2/x-5=1/x+2
the teacher said i got it wrong when i got -1/7 he got -9 if that is please explain.
2 answers
It looks like some parenthesis would help clear this up.
2/(x-5) = 1/(x+2)
cross multiply...
2*(x+2) = x-5
= 2x + 4 = x - 5
subtract 4 from both sides
2x = x - 9
subtract x from both sides
x = -9
check by substituting -9 back into the original equation.
2/(-9 - 5) = 1/(-9 + 2
2/-14 = 1/-7
2/(x-5) = 1/(x+2)
cross multiply...
2*(x+2) = x-5
= 2x + 4 = x - 5
subtract 4 from both sides
2x = x - 9
subtract x from both sides
x = -9
check by substituting -9 back into the original equation.
2/(-9 - 5) = 1/(-9 + 2
2/-14 = 1/-7
2 answers