Need some help with a 'math' problem

[I am r4ymond]

Literally, a MATH problem.

I don't know how I got stuck in this mess. All I did was go on FB and the next thing I knew, I was attempting a 9th grade math problem in which I have no idea how to solve. I've asked my cousin and some other people how to do the math problem and they don't get it either. I don't know how to do the math problem either, because I don't think laterally and I haven't learned the concept of this math problem, for I'm only in 8th grade. I can't bail out on my friend either, because I have a tendency to help people, even if I can't really help most of the times. My friend's pretty mindfucked atm 'cause he spent about 2 hours trying to solve the problem but to no avail. Says he doesn't understand it.

The problem is:

1/3(x+2)=5/2

EDIT: Thanks a bunch guys. Problem solved. Also, sorry for wasting your guys' times if you were working on the problem and found that it's been solved already. I'll take full blame for it.

 

[Splych]

umm...
are those fractions or are they just slashes to represent division ? and are you solving for x or just simplifying ?

 

[Nathan Drake]

1/3(x+2)=5/2
x+2= (5/2)/(1/3)
x+2= 8.3
x = 6.3 or 6 1/3 or 19/3

 

[I am r4ymond]

umm...
are those fractions or are they just slashes to represent division ? and are you solving for x or just simplifying ?

Oh, forgot to explain further.

They're supposed to be fractions, and, yes, he's trying to solve for x.

 

[monkat]

I'm assuming that the problem is (one-third)(x+2) = (five-halves)?

Find the lowest common denominator and multiply the whole equation by it. (6)

So that would be 2(x+2) = 15. Distribute.

2x+4 = 15. Subtract 4 from both sides.

2x = 11. Divide by two on both sides.

x = 2.2 5.5 Derp.

Or 11/2.

 

[Splych]

EDIT: leme try now ...
cause people are getting different answers .

 

[Alex666]

you multiply 1/3 into the brackets: 1/3x+2/3=5/2
then you bring 2/3 onto the other side: 1/3x=5/2+2/3
then you sum up 5/2+2/3: 1/3x=15/6+4/6=19/6
you divide both sides by 1/3: x=19/6 / 2/6
makes: x=9.5

im from germany and school starts soon hope i could help you =)

 

[monkat]

Three different answers xD!

 

[I am r4ymond]

I'm assuming that the problem is (one-third)(x+2) = (five-halves)?

Find the lowest common denominator and multiply the whole equation by it. (6)

So that would be 2(x+2) = 15. Distribute.

2x+4 = 15. Subtract 4 from both sides.

2x = 11. Divide by two on both sides.

x = 2.2

My friend looked at the back of the book for the answer and it was 19/2. I know that he can just put the answer down and get on with it, but his teacher makes him show all of his work. The answer can't be a decimal either.

EDIT: It's supposed to be a fraction problem, so you should read it as: 1 over 3(x+2) equals 5 over 2.

EDIT 3: Answer: 19/2. For fuck's sake keeps changing the answer

 

[Splych]

ohkay , then if there is no decimal, then the work i did was useless.

but Monkat , a little error , x should equal 5.5 .
but think about it , substitute x with 5.5 and you will get Left Side = Right Side if you simplify the fractions.

 

[monkat]

but Monkat , a little error , x should equal 5.5 .
but think about it , substitute x with 5.5 and you will get Left Side = Right Side if you simplify the fractions.

Wow. No idea what I did to get 2/11 = 2.2....*facepalm* Didn't think that through.

Either way.....it's wrong...it should be 7.5...


QUOTE(I am r4ymond @ Feb 1 2011, 11:41 PM) EDIT 2: He confirmed it to be 15/2.

No, it can't be. Think about it.

1/3 = .33333
7.5+2 = 9.5

.33333*9.5 = 3.166666666

5/2 = 2.5

3.16666666 =/= 2.5

 

[Splych]

so monkat , you're saying x equals 7.5 ?
try LS = RS . it doesn't work , you get 7.5 on RS but on LS you get 9.5 .

 

[monkat]

so monkat , you're saying x equals 7.5 ?
try LS = RS . it doesn't work , you get 7.5 on RS but on LS you get 9.5 .

No, I know. I edited above.

OP was saying that his friend found that it was 7.5. I proved him wrong.

 

[Nathan Drake]

1/3(x+2)=5/2

1/3x + 2/3 = 5/2
1/3x = (5/2) + (2/3) = 19/6
x = (19/6)/(1/3)
x = 19/2

Okay. How do you do this problem and end up with 15/2?

 

[I am r4ymond]

1/3(x+2)=5/2

1/3x + 2/3 = 5/2
1/3x = (5/2) + (2/3) = 19/6
x = (19/6)/(1/3)
x = 19/2

Okay. How do you do this problem and end up with 15/2?

I didn't do this problem. He keeps changing the answer from 19/2 to 15/2 then 19/2 again.

Sometimes I regret helping others.

Anyways, thanks for your guys' brain service. Now I can finally get back to my shitload of hw. Wasted a precious amount of 40 minutes for 1 problem. Now I'm getting mindfucked.