Question 66·Hard·Linear Equations in One Variable
If
what is the value of ?
For equations where both sides contain fractions with the same denominator, the fastest and cleanest method is to multiply every term on both sides by that common denominator to eliminate the fractions in one step. Before you do this, note any restricted values that make the denominator zero. After clearing denominators, you should have a simple linear equation—carefully distribute, combine like terms, solve for , and then quickly check that your solution does not violate the original denominator restriction.
Hints
Look at the denominators
Notice that both fractions have the same denominator, . How could you use that to get rid of the fractions?
Multiply by the common denominator
Try multiplying both sides of the equation by to clear the denominators. Be sure to multiply every term by .
Simplify carefully after distributing
After you multiply by , distribute the and the , then combine like terms to get a standard linear equation of the form .
Solve the resulting linear equation
Once you have an equation without fractions, move all -terms to one side and constants to the other, then divide to solve for . Don’t forget to check that your solution doesn’t make the denominator equal to zero.
Desmos Guide
Enter the left-hand side as a function
In Desmos, type y1 = 4/(3-5x) + 2 to represent the left-hand side of the equation as a graph.
Enter the right-hand side as a function
Type y2 = 6x/(3-5x) - 1 to represent the right-hand side. You should now see two curves (with a vertical asymptote where ).
Find the intersection point
Zoom or pan until you can see where the graphs of and intersect. Tap or click the intersection point; Desmos will show its coordinates. The -coordinate of this intersection is the solution to the equation, as long as it does not make equal to zero.
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify the restriction and clear the denominator
The denominator appears in both fractions, so we can clear the fractions by multiplying the entire equation by .
First note the restriction: , so .
Multiply both sides by :
Now cancel the denominators in the fraction terms:
Distribute and simplify both sides
Distribute on each side:
- Left side: , so
- Right side: , so
So the equation becomes
Solve the linear equation
Now solve by getting all -terms on one side and the constants on the other.
Add to both sides and add to both sides:
Finally, divide both sides by :
This value does not make equal to zero, so it is valid. The correct answer is .