Question

Solve the linear equation 1 / 2 x + 10 = 1 / 4 x + 54. What was your first step and why

Answer 1

Answer:

If the equation is $\frac{1}{2} x + 10 = \frac{1}{4} x + 54$, then $x = 88$

And if the equation is $\frac{1}{2x} + 10 = \frac{1}{4x} + 54$, then $x = \frac{1}{176}$

Step-by-step explanation:

$\frac{1}{2} x + 10 = \frac{1}{4} x + 54$

Solving a linear equation, the first step is to make the equation variable, the subject of the equation.  This makes determination of the value of the variable easier:

$=> \frac{1}{2} x - \frac{1}{4} x = 54 - 10$

$=>\frac{1}{2} x = 44$

∴ $x = 88$

On the other hand, if the given equation was:

$\frac{1}{2x} + 10 = \frac{1}{4x} + 54$

$=> \frac{1}{2x} - \frac{1}{4x} = 54 - 10$

$=>\frac{1}{4x} = 44$

∴ $x = \frac{1}{176}$