Need help solving equation....

[cgarcia71]

Hi: I am trying to solve the following equation. I am stuck. Can someone help me understand?

1/2 q - 6 = 1/5 q

I really appreciate any help!

Thanks Cindy

 

[cgarcia71]

Sorry I didn't post what I have so far

for the problem 1/2 q - 6 = 1/5 q

10 (1/2q - 6) = 10(1/5 q)
5q -6 = 2 q

This is where I get stuck. Not sure how to proceed.

Thanks!

 

[skeeter]

good first step ... just remember to multiply all terms by 10

10(1/2 q - 6) = 10(1/5 q)
5q - 60 = 2q

add 60 and subtract 2q from both sides ...

3q = 60

q = 20

 

[cgarcia71]

Thank you

Thanks! That was very helpful. I have so many questions and am not sure how many I can post here. Is there a rule?

 

[skeeter]

try the problems on your own first ... you can check your work by substituting your solution into the original equation and determine if the equation is true.

if you run into a snag on a problem, it is best to post your work so that someone may better help you see what is incorrect.

Do not, by any means, post an entire "homework" list w/o showing any work at all ... you will either be
a. ignored or ...
b. publicly "flogged" with a keyboard :wink:

 

[cgarcia71]

Solving an inequality

Here is another one I am working on that I cannot seem to understand.

1/6 - 1/3 t > 0

I have this so far...but don't really understand the concept.

-1/6 + 1/6 - 1/3 t > 0 - 1/6

I don't think this is right. I don't get it... HELP please.... =)

 

[skeeter]

you started out fine ...

1/6 - 1/3 t > 0

-1/6 + 1/6 - 1/3 t > 0 - 1/6

combine like terms ...

-1/3 t > -1/6

multiply both sides by -3 ... don't forget to change the direction of the inequality

t < 1/2

 

[cgarcia71]

I am still a little lost.

so we got -1/3 > -1/6

You said to combine like terms which would be 6...I believe.

Is that how you get 1/2? Where do you multiply both sides by -3? That is where I am lost.

Thanks so much for your help. I am taking Algebra online with University of Phoenix Online and don't seem to be grasping the concepts. I really really really appreciate your help. I have a few more questions that I am stuck on. Can I submit them if I show what I have come up with so far?

Thanks again!!!

 

[skeeter]

no ... combining like terms was in this step ...

-1/6 + 1/6 - 1/3 t > 0 - 1/6

0 - 1/3 t > -1/6

-1/3 t > -1/6

the object now is to get t by itself ... to get rid of the -1/3, multiply both sides by its reciprocal, -3 ...

-3(-1/3 t) > -3(-1/6)

t < 1/2

 

[cgarcia71]

Thank you Skeeter

Wow, you are the best! Thanks for helping me.

 

[cgarcia71]

Interval notation

I was told I also need to state the solution in interval notation and sketch its graph. Do you know what that means and how I would do that?

Thanks again!

 

[skeeter]

(-infinity, 1/2) is interval notation for t < 1/2.

to graph it ...
1. draw a number line
2. put an "open" circle at t = 1/2
3. shade the number line to the left of the open circle and draw a large arrowhead
pointing to the left indicating that the shading continues left towards -infinity.

btw, it's ok to start a new thread for a new problem.

 

[Denis]

Hi: I am trying to solve the following equation. I am stuck. Can someone help me understand?
1/2 q - 6 = 1/5 q
I really appreciate any help!
Thanks Cindy

Here's something I find useful, using rule 1/a * b = b/a:
1/2 q = q/2 and 1/5 q = q/5; so:
q/2 - 6 = q/5
Now you can clearly see that lcd is 10; so multiply by 10:
5q - 60 = 2q

Get my drift?