Need Help with a Math Problem

( 3 over x ) minus 1 = (5 over x) plus (1 over 2x)

minus 1 = (5 over x) - (3 over x) + (1 over 2x)
= (2 over x) + (1 over 2x)
= (4 over 2x) + (1 over 2x)
= 5 over 2x (or) 5/2x
2x = 5/(-1)
x = 5/(-2)

x = -2.5
solved.

In case you were mistaken, and the problem is actually->
3/ (x-1) = 5/x + 1/2x then the solution goes this way -
3/(x-1) = 11/2x
6x = 11x - 11
5x = 11
x = 11/5 = 2.2

Okay, so with any equation, the goal is to get the variable (x) all by itself on one side of the equation, and a constant (number) all by itself on the other.

You can do ANYTHING you want to the terms in the equation as long as you do EXACTLY the same thing to both sides thereby keeping the sides equal.

There is more than one way to go about this... but my advice is...

Start by combining the terms on the right side. You can only add fractions with like denominators, so first re-write 5/x as 10/2x. That doesn't require a matching step on the left since you have just changed the way the number is WRITTEN, not what it means.

Now, you can add 10/2x to 1/2x. your equation now reads 3/x-1 = 11/2x.

Now, let's get the x's out from the denominators. You can undo division with multiplication, so multiply both sides by (x-1).

That leaves you with 3= (11x-11)/ 2x <--- I did 11(x-1) to get the new numerator.

Now get the 2x out of the denominator by multiplying both sides by 2x (like we did with the x-1)

You have 6x = 11x-11

I'll bet you can solve from there... but if not.

Subtract 11x from both sides.

-5x = -11

Divide both sides by -5

x = 11/5 (or 2 1/5 depending on how you want to write it)

Check you work by substituting 11/5 back in to the ORIGINAL equation and making sure both sides come out equal. Each side comes out 2.5 so you know it's correct!

Is the left side 3 over x or 3 over (x-1) or 3 over x, minus 1?

Thank for the SWH - I agree with Alexis, Mommy R. and Lucia B. that it's 11/5.

Basically, you want to get the least common denominator on the right so that you can add the two fractions. The LCD is 2x, so added together, you would get 11/2x.

Then on left side, you need to clear the (x-1) from the denominator by multiplying both sides by (x-1). That gets you to just 3 on the left, and then when you multiply the right by (x-1) you get (11x-11)/(2x).

Then you clear the denominator on the right by multiplying both sides by 2x, giving you 6x = (11x-1). Then you just solve for x.

(You can use parentheses to group and clear it up.)

3/(x-1) = 5/x + 1/(2x); x=11/5

Multiply the 5/x by 2/2, which is essentially 1. This is just to get like terms, so you can add up the right side.

3/(x-1) = 10/2x + 1/2x
3/(x-1) = 11/2x

Multiply the left numerator (3) by the right denominator (2x). Multiply the right numerator (11) by the left denominator (x-1). They equal each other. This looks like (3)(2x)=(11)(x-1).

6x=11x-11

I also got x=11/5 for the answer. Thanks for the brain work this morning!

x = -5/2

Mutlipy through by x is the simplest explanation.

3/x - 1 = 5/x + 1/2x --> 3 - x = 5 + 1/2 --> 3 - x = 10/2 + 1/2 --> 3 -x = 11/2 --> x = 3 - 11/2 --> x = 6/2 - 11/2 --> x = -5/2

If it is as JB says, then the answer is x = 11/5.
3/(x-1) = 5/x + 1/2x --> 3/(x - 1) = 10/2x + 1/2x --> 3/(x-1) = 11/2x --> 6x = 11(x-1) --> 6x/11 = x - 1 --> 11x/11 - 6x/11 = 1 --> 5x/11 = 1 --> x = 11/5

could you add in the parenthesis, I think there's more than one way to read your question.

For example 3 as the numerator (top) and x-1 is the denominator(bottom) of the first half of the equation....OR 3 as numerator over x as denominator and then subtract 1.

1.) find the least common denominator
2(x-1)+3(x+1).....5
........... =.........
(x+1) (x-1)...(x+1)(x-1)
2.)the (x+1)*(x-1)cancels out both sides of the equations are multiplied with(x+1)
3.)2(x-1)+3(x+1)=5
4.) 5x+1=5
5.)x=4/5 or 0.8

Here's how I would do it:

3/x - 1 = 5/x + 1/2x
first, move 3/x to the other side ( -3/x to both sides), leaves:
-1 = 5/x-3/x+ 1/2x
-1 = 2/x + 1/2x
then, multiply both sides by x, and you get:
-x = 2 + 1/2
-x = 2 1/2
x = -2 1/2

or
You could just multiply both sides by x to start with, and cancel out all the x's in the denominator of your fractions, and then solve it.

1st simplify: 3/-1=6/2x (the x under the 3 cancels out the x under the 5 on the other side of the = sign). Therefore: 3/-1=6/2x. -3/1=-3=6/2x. Isolate the 2x on the right hand side of the equation: -3-(-6)=2x. Next, 3=2x. Divide both sides by 2. 3/2=x. Therefore 1 and a half=x.

Try the website wolfram alpha - it will solve most math problems:

http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=3%2Fx-1%3D5%2Fx+%2B1...

Next time, could you give us an easier math problem? My algebra class was too long ago! :^)

Multiply though my 2x(x-1) to get rid of all fractions.
You have: 6x = 10x-10 + x - 1
6x = 11x - 11
-5x = -11
x = 11/5

I hate math. Its like a foreign language to me lol. My boys however are math freaks. (their own name not mine lol) My oldest son has a degree in Actuarial Math from carthage college, next son has a major in computer programming and minor in mathmatics from NIU. last son in highschool is also way into math.

However when I asked them about this problem the answer I got from all three was "mom the kid needs to do it himself or he won't be able to do it on the test" so if this is a math problem for a kid in school you might want to have them ask the teacher for help so they understand it better next time.

No, no more math! I was taking a math practice test before I got on here and missed 8 out of 24. Ah! no more math.