Linear Equations involving Algebraic Fractions

Linear Equations Involving Algebraic Fractions

To keep equations with algebraic fractions in balance the same operation must be applied to both sides.
You cannot add or subtract parts of numerators or denominators without a common denominator.
To multiply both sides by a number, every term must be multiplied by that number.
You can use cross multiplication or the reciprocal of both sides if there is a single fraction on both sides.

As with all equations we need to group all of the pronumeral together. This may involve moving one a
pronumeral from one side of the equation to the other. To group the pronumerals together a common
denominator needs to be established. Rather than make fractions which are harder to deal with,
multiply every term on both sides of the equation by the common denominator.

Example Example Example Example

2𝑥 𝑥 2𝑥 𝑥 3𝑥 − 5 6𝑥 + 1 5𝑥 1 9
⎯⎯⎯+ ⎯⎯= 4 ⎯⎯⎯+ ⎯⎯= 4 ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯= ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ⎯⎯⎯+ ⎯⎯= ⎯⎯⎯
3 7 3 7 5 7 3 2 11
2𝑥 7 𝑥 3 21 2𝑥 𝑥 3𝑥 − 5 6𝑥 + 1 5𝑥 9 1
⎯⎯⎯× ⎯⎯+ ⎯⎯× ⎯⎯= 4 × ⎯⎯⎯ ⎯⎯⎯× 21 + ⎯⎯× 21 = 4 × 21 ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯× 35 = ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯× 35 ⎯⎯⎯= ⎯⎯⎯− ⎯⎯
3 7 7 3 21 3 7 5 7 3 11 2
14𝑥 3𝑥 84 14𝑥 + 3𝑥 = 84 7(3𝑥 − 5) = 5(6𝑥 + 2) 5𝑥 18 11
⎯⎯⎯ + ⎯⎯⎯= ⎯⎯⎯ ⎯⎯⎯= ⎯⎯⎯− ⎯⎯⎯
21 21 21 3 22 22
17𝑥 = 84 21𝑥 − 35 = 30𝑥 + 10
17𝑥 84 5𝑥 7
⎯⎯⎯ = ⎯⎯⎯ ⎯⎯⎯= ⎯⎯⎯
21 21 84 −35 = 9𝑥 + 10 3 22
𝑥 = ⎯⎯⎯
17
17𝑥 = 84 9𝑥 = −45 7 3
𝑥 = ⎯⎯⎯× ⎯⎯
22 5
84 𝑥 = −5
𝑥 = ⎯⎯⎯ 21
17
𝑥 = ⎯⎯⎯
110

Example Example Example

3𝑥 − 5 6𝑥 + 1 3𝑥 − 5 6𝑥 + 1 2𝑥 + 1 1 9𝑥 − 4
⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯= ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯= ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯+ ⎯⎯= ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
4 2 4 2 3 2 8

2(3𝑥 − 5) = 4(6𝑥 + 1) 3𝑥 − 5 6𝑥 + 1 2𝑥 + 1 1 9𝑥 − 4
⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯× 4 = ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯× 4 ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯× 24 + ⎯⎯× 24 = ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯× 24
4 2 3 2 8
6𝑥 − 10 = 24𝑥 + 4
3𝑥 − 5 = 2(6𝑥 + 1) 8(2𝑥 + 1) + 12 = 3(9𝑥 − 4)
−10 = 18𝑥 + 4
3𝑥 − 5 = 12𝑥 + 2 16𝑥 + 8 + 12 − 5𝑥 = 27𝑥 − 12
18𝑥 = −14
−5 = 15𝑥 + 2 11𝑥 + 20 = 27𝑥 − 12
7
𝑥 = − ⎯⎯ 9𝑥 = −7 16𝑥 = 32
9

7 𝑥=2
𝑥 = − ⎯⎯
9

Example Example
3 5 𝑥 6 18 5 1 7 5 7 1 3 𝑥 8 40
⎯⎯= ⎯⎯ ⇒ ⎯⎯= ⎯⎯ ⇒ 𝑥 = ⎯⎯⎯ ⎯⎯+ ⎯⎯= ⎯⎯ ⇒ ⎯⎯= ⎯⎯− ⎯⎯= ⎯⎯ ⇒ ⎯⎯= ⎯⎯ ⇒ 𝑥 = ⎯⎯⎯
𝑥 6 3 5 5 𝑥 2 8 𝑥 8 2 8 5 3 3