FRACTIONS IN EQUATIONS SOLUTIONS

TASK 1 Single-step

x y n 1 k
a 7 b  5.2 c  d  16
5 3 14 2 8
x =7×5 y = 5.2 × 3 1 k  16  8
n  14
= 35 = 15.6 2  128
7

TASK 2 Compare solutions

One method is shown in part (a). The order of operations is important when solving equations.
You may have checked your answer mentally without recording any working.

a b y4 y
 4  10
 10
8 8
y  4  80 y
 14
y  84 8
y  112

5 1 4 84  4 112
Check:  3 Check: 1  3 Check:  10  Check:  4  10 
2 2 8 8

c 2k 3k d 8n n
6 6 1 8 1
3 2 7 7
2k  18 3k  12 8n  7 n
  7
k 9 k 4  n  1 7
n 1 n
7
7
n  49

29 3 4 8 1 49
Check:  6 Check:  6 Check:  1 Check: 8   1
3 2 7 7
TASK 3 Be aware of order

You working may be different but your final answers should be the same. Sometimes a calculator is
useful to help check difficult answers.

2k 3m  7 4n  12
a 3 7 b 4 c 8
5 10 6
2k 3m  7  40 48  4n  12
4
5 3m  33 36  4n
2k  20 m  11 9n
k  10 n9
2  10 3  11  7 4  9  12
Check: 3 7  Check: 4 Check: 8  
5 10 6

10k 6k 4m  6
d  20  0 e 15  8 f  5  2
9 7 3
10k 6k 4m  6
 20   7  7
9 7 3
10k  180 6k  49 4m  6  21
k  18 49 4m  15
k
6 15
m
1 4
8
6 3
 3
4
10  18 1
Check:  20  0  Check: 6k  6  8  49 Check:
9 6
 3
49 4m  4   3   15
15  8  4
7
15  6
 5  7  5  2 
3

TASK 4 Write and solve

In each problem, the unknown number is denoted x.

x
a The equation is:  12 b Double number is 2x.
7 2x
Double and divide by 5 is .
The solution is: x = 84 5
2x
The number was 84. The equation is:  10
5
The solution is: 2x = 50
x = 25
The number was 25.
TASK 4 Write and solve (cont’d)

c Sum of number and 8 is x + 8. d Number multiplied by 5 is 5x.

x8 5x
Sum divided by 6 is . Divided by 2 is .
6 2
x8
The equation is: 9 5x
6 Subtracted 11 is  11 .
2
The solution is: x + 8 = 54
5x
The equation is:  11  19
x = 46 2
The number was 46. 5x
The solution is:  11  19
2
5x
 30
2
5 x  60
x  12
The number was 12.

e Number multiplied by 5 is 5x. f Challenge:

Subtracted 11 is 5x – 11. Add 350: x + 350
5 x  11 90% sold means that 10% is left.
Divided by 2 is .
2 1
10% is , which is found by dividing by 10.
5 x  11 10
The equation is:  19
2 x  350
The equation is:  140
The solution is: 5 x  11  19
10
2 x  350
The solution is:  140
5 x  11  38 10
5 x  49 x  350  1400
4 x  1050
x  9 or 9.8
5 The farmer started with 1050 chickens.
4 Check: (1050 + 350) ÷ 10 = 140 
The number was 9 .
5
Compare parts (d) and (e): The order of
operations makes a big difference.