Whenever we have a fraction in an equation, we apply the multiplication principle to get rid of it. For example, consider the equation below:
Since the opposite of dividing by is multiplying by , we apply the multiplication principle and multiply both sides of the equation by :
The process of removing the fraction is called clearing the rational expression. We now have an equation that we can solve using the usual methods:
Solve the equation
First, we clear the rational expression by multiplying both sides by
Next, we solve the remaining equation using the addition and multiplication principles:
Thus,
If $\dfrac{2x + 6}{5} = 4$, then $x =$
a
|
$7$ |
b
|
$3$ |
c
|
$13$ |
d
|
$\dfrac 1 2$ |
e
|
$28$ |
Solve for $y$ where $-4=\dfrac{2y+10}{5}.$
a
|
$y=-20$ |
b
|
$y=-5$ |
c
|
$y=-25$ |
d
|
$y=-10$ |
e
|
$y=-15$ |
Solve the equation
First, we clear the rational expression by multiplying both sides by
Next, we solve the remaining equation using the addition and multiplication principles:
Thus,
Solve the equation $\dfrac{5x-1}{3} = 3x.$
a
|
$x = \dfrac{3}{4}$ |
b
|
$x = \dfrac{5}{3}$ |
c
|
$x = -\dfrac{1}{4}$ |
d
|
$x = -4$ |
e
|
$x = -\dfrac{2}{5}$ |
Solve the equation $\dfrac{8y+5}{3} =6y.$
a
|
$y=\dfrac{1}{6}$ |
b
|
$y=2$ |
c
|
$y=\dfrac{1}{5}$ |
d
|
$y=\dfrac{1}{2}$ |
e
|
$y=5$ |
Solve the equation
First, we clear the rational expression by multiplying both sides by We must make sure that all of the terms on the right-hand side are multiplied by
Next, we solve the remaining equation using the addition and multiplication principles:
Thus,
Solve for $g$ where $\dfrac{21-g}{2}=21+3g.$
a
|
$g=9$ |
b
|
$g=-3$ |
c
|
$g=3$ |
d
|
$g=5$ |
e
|
$g=-9$ |
Solve for $a$ where $\dfrac{10+a}{4}=4 - 2a.$
a
|
$a=\dfrac{4}{3}$ |
b
|
$a=2$ |
c
|
$a=\dfrac{2}{3}$ |
d
|
$a=\dfrac{3}{5}$ |
e
|
$a=\dfrac{3}{2}$ |
Solve
First, we clear the rational expression by multiplying both sides by
Then, we solve the remaining equation using the addition and multiplication principles:
Thus,
Solve for $z$ where $\dfrac{1+z}{5} = 2(z-2).$
a
|
$z = \dfrac{7}{3}$ |
b
|
$z = \dfrac{3}{5}$ |
c
|
$z = \dfrac{1}{3}$ |
d
|
$z = \dfrac{3}{7}$ |
e
|
$z = \dfrac{5}{3}$ |
Solve for $y$ where $-2(y+10)=\dfrac{-9+y}{4}.$
a
|
$y=9$ |
b
|
$y=-\dfrac{71}{9}$ |
c
|
$y=-8$ |
d
|
$y=\dfrac{71}{9}$ |
e
|
$y=-9$ |