Question

Solve the equation by first clearing the decimals.
0.94x + 0.98(16 - x) = 15.36

Answer 1

To clear the decimals, we need to eliminate the decimals by multiplying both sides of the equation by a common multiple of the denominators of the decimals.

The denominators of the decimals are 0.94 and 0.98, so the common multiple is 100.

Multiplying both sides of the equation by 100, we get:

100 * (0.94x + 0.98(16 - x)) = 100 * 15.36

Simplifying both sides, we have:

94x + 98(16 - x) = 1536

Expanding, we get:

94x + 1568 - 98x = 1536

Combining like terms, we have:

4x + 1568 = 1536

Subtracting 1568 from both sides, we get:

4x = 1536 - 1568

Simplifying, we have:

4x = -32

Dividing both sides by 4, we get:

x = -32/4

x = -8

Therefore, the solution to the equation after clearing the decimals is x = -8.