Thread: Applications Using Equations with Fractions

So this sounds easy but I just dont even know where to start.

What number can be added tom both the numerator and denominator of 16/37 to produce 5/8?Let x be the number in question. What fraction is produced when x is added to both the numerator and the denominator of 16/37.

If we let be the number that we add to both the numerator and the denominator, i.e. , this should be produce .

In other words, we force the two fractions to be equal and whatever value we get for after solving the equation must be the number.

So we want to solve:

Start off by cross multiplying to get:

Can you continue on?

ohh ok. but if your cross multiplying, isnt 5x37=185?
ok so then solving the answer would be 19 right?

Whoops, it was a typo. I was merely .. uh.. testing you

To see if you're correct, plug in to your original equation. Does your fraction reduce to ?

yes!thank you