Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom (Post 3431422)

Okay, wow. :confuse2:

Algebra was one of my favorite subjects in school, but I now realize it's all gone...just gone.

Originally Posted by linz06 (Post 3431213)

I wrote this down quickly so I'm not sure if it's the right answer but it was a nice quick break from work (I love math, I'm a geek)

Since you know what y is, you insert that value for y and you get:

-1/2-3 = 3/4x-8

First, you need common denominators if you want to add/subtract fractions. since the only fraction we need to worry about right now has a 2 on the bottom, put a 2 on the bottom of the other numbers we need to add an subtract. 3 becomes 6/2 and 8 becomes 16/2. Same value, just a common denominator. I'll put brackets around the fractions so they're easier to decipher in computer type. You end up with:

-(1/2) - (6/2) = (3/4x) - (16/2)

Now you can easily simplify the left side. You add or subtract the top numbers, so -1 - 6 = -7. Your new value for that side becomes -7/2:

-7/2 = (3/4x) - (16/2)

Simply add the 16/2 to both sides, which cancels it out on the right side and adds it to the left side. The bolded numbers cancel each other out and equal 0:

-(7/2) + (16/2) = (3/4x) - (16/2) + (16/2)

Add the -7 + 16 to end up with 9/2 on the left side:

9/2 = 3/4x

If you multiply 4x (in fraction form, 4x/1), the 4x will cancel out on the right side:

(9/2) * (4x/1) = (3/4x) * (4x/1)

When multiplying fractions, you can multiply straight across - top number times top number, over bottom number times bottom number. 9 * 4x = 36x, and 2 * 1 = 2. You end up with 36x/2:

36x/2 = 3

Now you can divide 36 by 2 and you end up simplifying to 12x:

12x = 3

To get x alone, you must divide both sides by 12:

x = 3/12, or simplified to x = 1/4

Originally Posted by mileydog (Post 3431336)

Actually it is wrong. X=6


9/2 = 3/4x

Up to this point you are correct.

However you simply need to multiply by 4 not 4x.

Thus you should get 36/2 = 3x
Simplified is 18 = 3x
18/3 = X
X=6

If you multiply 4x (in fraction form, 4x/1), the 4x will cancel out on the right side:

(9/2) * (4x/1) = (3/4x) * (4x/1)

When multiplying fractions, you can multiply straight across - top number times top number, over bottom number times bottom number. 9 * 4x = 36x, and 2 * 1 = 2. You end up with 36x/2:

36x/2 = 3

Now you can divide 36 by 2 and you end up simplifying to 12x:

BTW...Dividing 36x/2 gives 18x NOT 12x

12x = 3

To get x alone, you must divide both sides by 12:

x = 3/12, or simplified to x = 1/4

Originally Posted by Ellie May (Post 3431434)

A) Why??? It's a headache and a half!
B) This is pretty close to college algebra level. I don't understand how young teenagers can do it.:confused:

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom (Post 3431422)

Okay, wow. :confuse2:

Algebra was one of my favorite subjects in school, but I now realize it's all gone...just gone.

Originally Posted by lisaly (Post 3431453)

Originally Posted by Ellie May (Post 3431468)

That is terrible and crazy. I think I have dyscalculus and couldn't even imagine being forced to do this in 7th grade.

My first college level algebra class had this sort of thing in it. There is no way a 9th grader should have to do it if they aren't ready.

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom (Post 3431422)

Okay, wow. :confuse2:

Algebra was one of my favorite subjects in school, but I now realize it's all gone...just gone.

Originally Posted by Darlene68 (Post 3431340)

Algebra!?? Eeeeeeeeeeek!!!!! *runs away* :D

Originally Posted by Jennxling (Post 3431881)

I loved algebra!! It was an easy A...*sigh* I have to go and take trig, pre-calc, and calc after I graduate to fulfill Veterinarian school's requirements...and SO much science courses :( I'd rather do algebra all day!

Originally Posted by Ellie May (Post 3431468)

That is terrible and crazy. I think I have dyscalculus and couldn't even imagine being forced to do this in 7th grade.

My first college level algebra class had this sort of thing in it. There is no way a 9th grader should have to do it if they aren't ready.