# Math Help - equations with fractions help

1. ## equations with fractions help

Hello,

Hoping someone can help me, i keep trying to solve this equation and i never get the right answer

x + 1/2x = 9/5

my method was to get rid of the fractions so the LCM is 5(2x) ?

so multiply each term my the LCM and I end up with 10x^2 -18x + 5 = 0
but that’s not correct because at the back of the book it says x=2 or x = 1/4

which would mean that the original quadratic equation is 4x^2 -9x + 2 = 0
and than that can be factored into (4x -1) (x-2)

can anyone please tell me were I am going wrong
thank you!

2. Originally Posted by hana_102
Hello,

Hoping someone can help me, i keep trying to solve this equation and i never get the right answer

x + 1/2x = 9/5

my method was to get rid of the fractions so the LCM is 5(2x) ?

so multiply each term my the LCM and I end up with 10x^2 -18x + 5 = 0
but that’s not correct because at the back of the book it says x=2 or x = 1/4

which would mean that the original quadratic equation is 4x^2 -9x + 2 = 0
and than that can be factored into (4x -1) (x-2)

can anyone please tell me were I am going wrong
thank you!
Clearly the answers given by the book do NOT solve $x + \frac{1}{2x} = \frac{9}{5}$ ....

Your method and resulting quadratic equation is correct for $x + \frac{1}{2x} = \frac{9}{5}$ ....

However, I'll bet you that the equation is meant to be $x + \frac{1}{2x} = \frac{9}{{\color{red}4}}$ ....

3. Originally Posted by mr fantastic
Clearly the answers given by the book do NOT solve $x + \frac{1}{2x} = \frac{9}{5}$ ....

Your method and resulting quadratic equation is correct for $x + \frac{1}{2x} = \frac{9}{5}$ ....

However, I'll bet you that the equation is meant to be $x + \frac{1}{2x} = \frac{9}{{\color{red}4}}$ ....

so my book is wrong?

4. Originally Posted by hana_102
so my book is wrong?
You really need to ask? Of course it's wrong!

Solve and see what happens.

(Does it surprise you that books can have mistakes in them?)