## What Am I Doing Wrong?

Simplificatation, evaluation, linear equations, linear graphs, linear inequalities, basic word problems, etc.

### What Am I Doing Wrong?

1/t + 3 + 4 = 2/t +3 Book says this equals 2, but I get -2.75

Original equation:

1/t + 3 + 4 = 2/t +3

1) subtract 1/t + 3 from both sides =

4 = 1/t + 3

2) multiply both sides by t + 3 =

4t + 12 = 1

3) subtract 12 from both side =

4t = -11

4) divide both sides by 4 =

t = -2.75
Again, book says correct answer is 2. What am I doing wrong?
jam108

Posts: 1
Joined: Sun Apr 07, 2013 2:38 pm

jam108 wrote:1/t + 3 + 4 = 2/t +3 Book says this equals 2, but I get -2.75

The equation, as currently formatted, means the following:

. . . . .$\frac{1}{t}\, +\, 3\, +\, 4\, =\, \frac{2}{t}\, +\, 3$

Is this what was meant? Or did you mean something maybe like the below?

. . . . .$\frac{1}{t\, +\, 3}\, +\, 4\, =\, \frac{2}{t\, +\, 3}$

Also, you say that "Book says this equals 2". Does this mean that your textbook, in the back, says that the solution to the equation is "t = 2"? Thank you!

stapel_eliz

Posts: 1797
Joined: Mon Dec 08, 2008 4:22 pm

### Re: What Am I Doing Wrong?

jam108 wrote:1/t + 3 + 4 = 2/t +3 Book says this equals 2, but I get -2.75

Im gonna guess that the other post is rite on what u mean.

check the ans in the eqn they gave u:
1/(2+3)+4=(1/5)+4=(1/5)+(20/5)=21/5
2/(2+3)=2/5
doesnt work!! so the bk is wrong

check yr ans:
1/(-2.75+3)+4=1/(.25)+4=1/(1/4)+4=4+4=8
2/(-2.75+3)=2/(.25)=2/(1/4)=(2/1)(4/1)=8
urs works, so its rite!!

tell ur teacher that theres a typo in the back!