# Thread: ......solve the equation

1. ## ......solve the equation

I am asked to solve this equation..

4 over 5m-1 equals 2 over 2m-1

now, am I to move the the first fraction over to the right? so that it becomes a subtraction or do I move it to left so that it becomes an addition problem!?

mind you now that the answer is -1, but how!?

2. $\frac{4}{5m-1} = \frac{2}{2m-1}$

Multiply both sides by $(5m-1)(2m-1)$

$\frac{4(5m-1)(2m-1)}{5m-1} = \frac{2(5m-1)(2m-1)}{2m-1}$
$4(2m-1) = 2(5m-1)$
$8m-4 = 10m-2$
$-2 = 2m$
$m=-1$

3. Originally Posted by Morzilla
I am asked to solve this equation..

4 over 5m-1 equals 2 over 2m-1

now, am I to move the the first fraction over to the right? so that it becomes a subtraction or do I move it to left so that it becomes an addition problem!?

mind you now that the answer is -1, but how!?
$\frac 4{5m - 1} = \frac 2{2m - 1}$

cross-multiply, we get:

$4(2m - 1) = 2(5m - 1)$

can you take it from here?

4. ahhhhhh I ok so I was not supposed to move either fraction until the denominator was canceled!!! !! ok I got it now

Thanks to both of you!!!