Algebra Demystified 2nd Ed

Chapter 7 linear equaTionS 197

On each side, three quantities are being multiplied together. On the left,
the quantities are 6,^13 , and x + 4. By the associative property of multiplica-
tion, the 6 and 31 can be multiplied, then that product is multiplied by x + 4.
Similarly, on the right, we first multiply 6 and^12 then multiply that product
by x − 1.

6 1

3

461

2

1

24

















+=















−

+

() ()

()

xx

x ==−

+= −

−−

=−

++

=

31

2833

22

83

33

11

()x

xx

xx

x

x

PRACTICE
Solve the equation by first clearing the fraction(s).

1. 21 xx+= −^3351
   2.^1
   6

1

3

2

3

5

12

xx−= −

3. 51 ()^24 xx−= 31 ()+^2
   4.^2
   3

1 1

6

231

8

()xx−−()+=

5. 43 xx−+=− 31 1 45 x 203

PRACTICE
Solve the equation by first clearing the fraction(s).

PRACTICE
Solve the equation by first clearing the fraction(s).