Equations with Fractions and
Decimals
To solve an equation with fractions:
Find the least common denominator
(LCD) of all fraction terms on both sides of
the equation.
Multiply each term on both sides of the
equation by the LCD. This should remove
all fractions from the equation.
Solve the resulting equation using the
methods from earlier sections.
Solve:
LCD = 20, so multiply
both sides by 20.
3 x 45
4 20
3 x
20 20
4
5 3 x 1 45
15 x 45
15 x 45
15 15
x3
45
20
3 x 13
Solve:
4 6 12
LCD = 12, so
multiply each
term by 12
3
x 13
12 12 12
4
6 12
3 3 2 x 1 13
9 2 x 13
9 2 x 9 13 9
2x 4
x2
Solve: 2 x 4 x
9
2 x
x
18 18 4 18
9
6
4 x 72 3 x
4 x 72 4 x 3 x 4 x
72 x
72 x
Solving an Equation with Fractions
5 m 10 =
8
8
8
5 m
8
3 m + 1 m
4
2
5 m 10
8
3 m + 1 m
4
2
8 10
3 m
4
5m 80 = 6m + 4m
Now use the four steps to solve this
equivalent equation.
Multiply by LCD: 8.
1 m
2
Distribute.
Multiply.
5m 80 = 6m + 4m
Step 1
5m 80 = 10m
Step 2
5m 80 5m = 10m 5m
Step 3
80 = 5m
80 = 5m
5
5
16 = m
Combine terms.
Subtract 5m.
Combine terms.
Divide by 5.
Step 4
Check by substituting 16 for m in the original equation.
5 m 10 =
8
5 (16) 10 =
8
3 m + 1 m
4
2
3 (16) + 1 (16)
4
2
10 10 = 12 8
20 = 20
The solution to the equation is 16.
Let m = 16.
Multiply.
True
Another example
14 n
8 10
2
+8
+8
(2)14 n 18 (2)
2
14 n 36
-14
First add 8 to both sides
-14
N = 22
Next multiply both sides by 2
Subtract 14 from both sides and solve.
Solve, and check the solution.
2m 3 m
6
5
3
5
Solution: LCD =15
3 (2m 3) 5 (m) = 3( 6)
6m 9 5m 18
m 9 = 18
m 9 9 18 9
m 9
Check:
2m 3 m
6
5
3
5
2 9 3 9
6
15
15
5
3
5
3 21 5 3 18
63 45 18
18 18
Solve
Example:
2t 4 1
1
7
t t
3
2
4
3
4(2t 4) 6t 3t 28
8t 16 6t 3t 28
14t 16 3t 28
Combine terms.
2t 4 1
1
7
t t
3
2
4
3
Example 2
Solution continued
14t 16 3t 28
-16
-16
14t = 3t - 44
-3t
-3t
11t 44
t 4
Check
:
2( 4) 4 1
1
7
( 4) ( 4)
3
2
4
3
4
7
( 2) 1
3
3
10
10
3
3
? Let t = 4.
True
Solve the following equation:
4
12
3
3(12
)
y 1
3
4
y (12
2)
y 1 3 y
3
4 2
The common denominator is 12 so well
multiply each term by 12.
Cancel all denominators
Here is our fraction free equation to solve
4 y 1 9 6 y
Distribute
4y 4 9 6y
Subtract 4y from both sides and combine like terms
5 2y
5
y
2
Divide both sides by 2
Try This
12 x
13
2
93 80 r
90
3
Try This
12 x
13
2
93 80 r
90
3
X = 38
Try This
12 x
13
2
93 80 r
90
3
X = -38
R = 97
Clear the equation of fractions
Multiply each side by the LCD to get
rid of the fraction or fractions.
Solving linear equations involving fractions
3.)
3x 8 x
4
2
5
Multiply both sides of the
equation by 10 (each term)
x = 40
To remove fractions from an equation:
Multiply both sides of the equation (each term) by the least common
denominator
Solve
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Clear the fraction
multiply each term
by the LCD
Simplify
Add 2x to both sides
Simplify
Add 6 to both sides
Simplify
Divide both sides by 6
Simplify
Check your answer
3 1
1
3
x x
8 4
2
4
3
1
1
3
(8) (8) x (8) x (8)
8
4
2
4
3 - 2x = 4x 6
+ 2x +2x
3
= 6x 6
+6
+6
9
= 6x
6
6
3
or 1.5 = x
2
3 1
1
3
1.5 1.5
8
Ex.
9(14)
h
14
14
(14)1 (14)
114h 9
1
1
14h 8
14
14
8
14
4
h
7
The easiest way to solve a
fraction equation is to first get
rid of the fraction !!!
Multiply each term by the
common denominator!!
This will cancel the
denominator, leaving just
numerators!!
h has a denominator of one,
so just multiply 14 times h.
Ex.
(8) 3 (8)
1 (8)
m
8
8
3 8m 1
3
8m 2
8
8
2
m
8
First, multiply each term by
the common denominator!!
This will cancel the
denominator, leaving just
numerators!!
m has a denominator of one,
so just multiply 8 times m.
1
m
4
Even though the problem
looks different, follow the
same steps.
First, multiply each term by
the common denominator!!
-2 and 8 have a
denominator of one, so just
multiply (-2)(9) and (8)(9).
Ex. 3
(9) 5 (9)
(9)
y28
5y 18 72
18 18
5y 90
5
5
y 18
Ex.
First, multiply each term by
the common denominator!!
-2 and 4 have a
denominator of one, so just
multiply (-2)(5) and (4)(5).
(5) 3 (5) (5)
x2 4
5
3x 10 20
10 10
3x 30
3
x 10
The problem looks different
again but still follow the same
steps.
First, multiply each term by
the common
denominator!!
NOW, divide
3 into
What12.
is it?This will
cancel the 3.
This will give you
4. Now multiply
4(-2).
Ex.
2(12)
x
12
12 3
(12)1 (12)5
1x 5 8
5 5
x 3
Ex.
6
(12)1 (12)5 1(12)
x
3
12 2
4x 5 6
5 5
4x 11
4
4
11
4
First, multiply each term by
the common denominator!!
What is it?
3 will go into 12, 4 times.
(4)(-1) =
2 will go into 12, 6 times.
(6)(1) =
or
3
x 2
4
Ex. 7
x 8
16
7
LCD. =-7
Ex. 8
3n (4)
9
6
With this type of
problem you will
FIRST simplify the
numerator on the
left, then then
multiply by the
LCD.
Ex. 9
x 5( x 1)
7
5
11
With this type of
problem you will
FIRST distribute,
then multiply by
the LCD.
Ex. 10
x 2( x 6)
1
16
32
USE THESE STEPS
First Distribute
Multiply by LCD
Solve
