# algebra problem

• September 26th 2009, 03:50 PM
rish
algebra problem
5 = 2x + 3y/3x +5y

how do i isolate for x/y ?

Thanks
• September 26th 2009, 03:55 PM
Freaky-Person
Quote:

Originally Posted by rish
5 = 2x + 3y/3x +5y

how do i isolate for x/y ?

Thanks

I'm seeing $\frac{3y}{3x}$ and wondering if maybe something was mistyped. It's not that it's wrong, it's just that the 3 is obviously going to cancel out, so why is it in there...?

Also, what do you mean by isolate? Do you mean change it into a y= form?
• September 26th 2009, 04:00 PM
rish
Oh sorry,

I mean to say 5x + 6y in the denominator

I just need to to solve for x an y

• September 26th 2009, 04:05 PM
skeeter
Quote:

Originally Posted by rish
5 = 2x + 3y/3x +5y

how do i isolate for x/y ?

Thanks

I'm assuming ...

$5 = \frac{2x+3y}{3x+5y}$

$15x + 25y = 2x + 3y$

since $y \ne 0$ , divide every term by $y$ ...

$15\cdot \frac{x}{y} + 25 = 2 \cdot \frac{x}{y} + 3$

$13\cdot \frac{x}{y} = -22$

$\frac{x}{y} = -\frac{22}{13}$