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 June 2nd, 2014, 12:27 PM #1 Newbie   Joined: Jun 2014 From: UK Posts: 14 Thanks: 0 simplifying with fractions Hi Another very basic problem... How do you treat the x when multiplying it by a fraction? (in order to remove the brackets?) y-4 = 1/2(x+2) Thanks in advance. Mark Last edited by skipjack; June 4th, 2014 at 03:11 AM.
 June 2nd, 2014, 01:02 PM #2 Global Moderator     Joined: Oct 2008 From: London, Ontario, Canada - The Forest City Posts: 7,963 Thanks: 1148 Math Focus: Elementary mathematics and beyond Multiplying both sides by 2 gives 2y - 8 = x + 2. Thanks from markcr
 June 2nd, 2014, 03:19 PM #3 Senior Member   Joined: Jul 2013 From: United Kingdom Posts: 471 Thanks: 40 $\displaystyle y-4=\frac { \left( x+2 \right) }{ 2 } \\ \\ 2\cdot y-2\cdot 4=\frac { \left( x+2 \right) }{ 2 } \cdot 2\\ \\ 2y-8=x+2\\ \\ x=2y-8-2\\ \\ x=2y-10=2\left( y-5 \right)$ Thanks from Benit13 and markcr Last edited by perfect_world; June 2nd, 2014 at 03:24 PM.
June 3rd, 2014, 12:22 AM   #4
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Quote:
 Originally Posted by markcr How do you treat the x when multiplying it by a fraction?
1/2x = x/2, so 1/2(x + 2) = x/2 + 1.

 June 3rd, 2014, 12:36 AM #5 Newbie   Joined: Jun 2014 From: UK Posts: 14 Thanks: 0 Thanks everyone! Mark
 June 3rd, 2014, 01:07 PM #6 Newbie   Joined: Jun 2014 From: UK Posts: 14 Thanks: 0 mmm...now what if it's a negative fraction: y – 4 = -1/2 (x+2)
June 3rd, 2014, 01:22 PM   #7
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Quote:
 Originally Posted by markcr mmm...now what if it's a negative fraction: y – 4 = -1/2 (x+2)
Just multiply by -1:
-y + 4 = 1/2(x+2)

Make it clearer:
-y + 4 = (x+2) / 2

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