Functions: Fractional functions
Linear fractional equations
A linear fractional equation is of the form
\[\frac{\blue{A}}{\green{B}}=\frac{\purple{C}}{\orange{D}}\]
where #\blue{A}#, #\green{B}#, #\purple{C}# and #\orange{D}# are linear expressions, which are expressions of the form #ax+b#.
Examples
\[\begin{array}{rcl}\dfrac{\blue{2x+3}}{\green{x+1}}&=&\dfrac{\purple{4x+2}}{\orange{-3x+5}} \\ \\ \dfrac{\blue{2x+3}}{\green{3x+6}}&=&\purple{2}\end{array}\]
Solving linear fractional equations by cross multiplication
Example We solve the linear fractional equation of the form #\frac{\blue{A}}{\green{B}}=\frac{\purple{C}}{\orange{D}}#. |
Example #\frac{\blue{2x+4}}{\green{3x+3}}=\frac{\purple{x+2}}{\orange{2x-3}}# |
|
Step 1 |
We cross multiply the equation. This gives us: \[\blue{A} \cdot \orange{D}=\purple{C} \cdot \green{B}\] |
#\left(\blue{2x+4}\right) \left(\orange{2x-3}\right) = \left(\purple{x+2}\right) \left(\green{3x+3}\right)# |
Step 2 | Solve the obtained quadratic equation. | #x=-2 \lor x=9# |
Stap 3 | Check the found solutions by investigating if they don't make the denominator of the original equation equal to #0#. |
Both solutions are valid. |
\[{{-4\cdot x-9}\over{5-x}}=-4\]
Give your answer in the form of #x=x_1#, in which #x_1# is a simplified fraction.
#\begin{array}{rcl}
\dfrac{-4\cdot x-9}{5-x}&=& -4 \\
&&\phantom{xxx}\blue{\text{original equation }}\\
-4\cdot x-9 &=& -4 \cdot \left(5-x\right)\\
&&\phantom{xxx}\blue{\text{left and right multiplied by }5-x }\\
-4\cdot x-9 &=& 4\cdot x-20\\
&&\phantom{xxx}\blue{\text{expanded brackets on the right} }\\
-8\cdot x &=& -11 \\
&&\phantom{xxx}\blue{\text{terms with }x \text{ to the left and numbers to the right} }\\
x &=&{{11}\over{8}} \\
&&\phantom{xxx}\blue{\text{divided by the coefficient of }x}\\
\end{array}#
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