## Algebra 1

Published by Prentice Hall

# Chapter 2 - Solving Equations - 2-1 Solving One-Step Equations - Practice and Problem-Solving Exercises - Page 86: 69

n=-1/2

#### Work Step by Step

In order to solve this algebraic expression, we must isolate the variable. A variable is the letter in the problem (for instance, in the equation 2x=10, x is the variable). In the expression ⅗ n=-3/10, n is being multiplied by a fraction, which we must cancel out. In order to cancel out a fraction being multiplied by a variable, we multiply both sides of the equation by the reciprocal of the fraction, which is the fraction flipped upside down. (For instance, the reciprocal of ⅖ is 5/2). Thus, we multiply both sides of the equation by 5/3 to obtain that n=-1/2. (Recall, 5/3 times -3/10 equals -15/30, which equals -1/2). We now check the solution. When we substitute -1/2 for n, we obtain: $-1/2*3/5=-3/10$. This gives us that $-3/10=-3/10$. Because this is true, the solution checks.

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