Equations with Brackets & Fractions Flashcards

All 5 cards in this deck

What are the steps to solve an equation containing brackets by expanding?

e.g. $3(x - 4) = 12$

1. Expand the bracket: $3x - 12 = 12$
2. Add 12 to both sides: $3x = 24$
3. Divide by 3: $x = 8$

What is the alternative first step for an equation like $4(x - 5) = 18$, instead of expanding?

Divide both sides by 4: $x - 5 = 4.5$, so $x = 9.5$

What are the steps to solve an equation with an algebraic fraction?

e.g. $\frac{x}{3} + 2 = 5$

1. Subtract 2 from both sides: $\frac{x}{3} = 3$
2. Multiply both sides by 3: $x = 9$

How do you remove the fraction when the whole expression is over a number?

e.g. $\frac{x + 1}{2} = 5$

Multiply both sides by the denominator: $x + 1 = 10$, so $x = 9$.

True or false? A correct first step for $\frac{3y}{4} = 12$ is to multiply both sides by 4.

True. It gives $3y = 48$, then $y = 16$.