The Purplemath Forums

by **missingsomething** on Mon Jan 26, 2009 4:50 pm

The problem: -1/3x=7

My solution: 3/1*-1/3x=7/1*3/1
x=21

Is solution correct?

**Sponsor**

by **stapel_eliz** on Mon Jan 26, 2009 5:09 pm

missingsomething wrote:The problem: -1/3x=7

As formatted, your equation could be either of the following:

. . . . . $-\frac{1}{3x}\, =\, 7$

. . . . . $-\frac{1}{3}x\, =\, 7$

"The answer" will depend upon which form you mean. I think you mean the second form, in which case, you might want to re-check your signs:

. . . . . $\left(\frac{3}{1}\right) \left(-\frac{1}{3}\right)x\, =\, \left(\frac{3}{1}\right) \left(\frac{7}{1}\right)$

. . . . . $-x\, =\, 21$

Then complete the solution.

Eliz.

The Purplemath Forums

Multiplication Property of Equality: -1/3x=7

Multiplication Property of Equality: -1/3x=7