Get y on one side alone:
-2/4 = 1/3y
Multiply both sides by 3y to get it out of the denominator:
-6y/4 = 1
multiply both sides by 4:
-6y = 4
Divide both sides by -6
y = -4/6
Check it:
1/4 - 2/(3)(-4/6) = 3/4 - 1/(3)(-4/6)
3*(-4/6) = -12/6 = -2
1/4 - -1 = 3/4 - -(1/2)
1 1/4 = 3/4 + 1/2
1 1/4 = 3/4 + 2/4
1 1/4 = 5/4
1 1/4 = 1 1/4
y = -4/6 or (simplified) -2/3
Matt
I cannot seem to work this problem out correctly as all answers found do not make the equation work.
1/4 - 2/3y = 3/4 - 1/3y
3 answers
Sometimes it helps to get rid of those pesky fractions. Try multiplying both sides by 12 and then working the problem. If you multiply everything on both sides of an equals by the same value it will not change the value of the variable you are trying to find.
The answer is -3/2