When solving a one-step equation of the form ax = c, just divide both sides by of the equation by a.
ax = c
(a/a)x = c/a
(1)x = c/a
x = c/a
Example #1: Solve the multiplication equation 6x = 18 using division.
You could also solve 6x = 18 by multiplying both sides of the equation by the reciprocal of 6. The reciprocal of 6 is 1/6.
6x = 18
(1/6)6x = 18(1/6)
(1/6)(6/1)x = (18/1)(1/6)
[(1×6)/(6×1)]x = (18×1)/(1×6)
(6/6)x = 18/6
1x = 3
x = 3
It looks like we are doing more work when solving multiplication equations the way we did it above. True, it is more work in this case! However, it is extremely important to know this technique and in some other cases, it is less work.
Example #2: Solve the multiplication equation 2x = 10 using division.
Again, you could also solve 2x = 10 by multiplying both sides of the equation by the reciprocal of 2. The reciprocal of 2 is 1/2.
2x = 10
(1/2)2x = 10(1/2)
(1/2)(2/1)x = (10/1)(1/2)
[(1×2)/(2×1)]x = (10×1)/(1×2)
(2/2)x = 10/2
1x = 5
x = 5
Example #3: Solve the multiplication equation (2/5)x = 10 using division.
Now, you will see that it is easier to solve the equation (2/5)x = 10 when we multiply both sides of the equation by the reciprocal of 2/5.
The reciprocal of 2/5 is 5/2.
(5/2)(2/5)x = (5/2)10
(5/2)(2/5)x = (5/2)(10/1)
[(5×2)/(2×5)]x = (5×10)/(2×1)
(10/10)x = (50)/(2)
(1)x = 50/2
x = 25
May 26, 22 06:50 AM
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