Need help with a fraction problem!

[max]

4(symmetric difference symbol)/6(symmetric difference symbol) + 5/17 = 1, What digit does (symmetric difference symbol) represent?

My book has the answer but it still doesn't make since to me.

Can someone explain this problem?

Thanks

 

[stapel]

What answer are you given? Which part of it does not make sense to you? Why not?

You have "(something) + 5/17 = 1", which means that 1 - 5/17 is equal to (something). So what is (something)?

What fraction, equivalent to (something), has a denominator with a tens digit of "6"? What is the tens digit of this fraction's numerator?

What is the ones digit for this fraction?

Does this agree or disagree with your textbook's answer?

Thank you!

Eliz.

 

[max]

Well I know 12/17 + 5/17 = 1.

So, 4(symmetric difference symbol)/6(symmetric difference symbol) = 12/17. That makes since and my book has that but to finish the problem it has:

"Since 4(symmetric difference symbol)/6(symmetric difference symbol) = 12/17, 4(symmetric difference symbol) must be a multiple of 12. Hence, 4(symmetric difference symbol) = 48, so (symmetric difference symbol) = 8."

The solution doesn't make since to me.

Could you explain it?

Thanks

 

[skeeter]

what's to explain?

and it does make sense. 12/17 = 48/68 ... end of problem.

 

[max]

maybe I'm confusing myself but if the unknown equal 8, wouldn't that make it 4(8)/6(8) = 32/48? But, 32/48 + 5/17 doesn't equal 1.

 

[skeeter]

you're not multiplying the two numbers in the numerator and denominator.

re-read the given instructions ...

What digit does (symmetric difference symbol) represent?

48/68 ... the 4 and 6 are tens digits, both 8's are unit digits.

 

[max]

thanks a bunch!