Solve for X: Combining Fractions 1/4x - 1/5x + 2/3x - 2/5x = 1

Question

Solve for X:

14x15x+23x25x=1 \frac{1}{4}x-\frac{1}{5}x+\frac{2}{3}x-\frac{2}{5}x=1

Video Solution

Solution Steps

00:00 Solve
00:04 We want to isolate the unknown X
00:08 We'll multiply by the common denominator to eliminate fractions
00:22 We'll divide 60 by each appropriate fraction
00:44 We'll solve each multiplication separately
00:56 We'll collect like terms
01:01 We'll isolate the unknown X
01:12 And this is the solution to the question

Step-by-Step Solution

To solve the given equation 14x15x+23x25x=1 \frac{1}{4}x - \frac{1}{5}x + \frac{2}{3}x - \frac{2}{5}x = 1 , follow these steps:

Step 1: Find a common denominator for the fractions involved. The denominators are 4, 5, 3, and again 5. The least common multiple (LCM) of these numbers is 60.

Step 2: Rewrite each fraction with the common denominator of 60:

  • 14x=1560x\frac{1}{4}x = \frac{15}{60}x
  • 15x=1260x-\frac{1}{5}x = -\frac{12}{60}x
  • 23x=4060x\frac{2}{3}x = \frac{40}{60}x
  • 25x=2460x-\frac{2}{5}x = -\frac{24}{60}x

Step 3: Combine the fractions:

1560x1260x+4060x2460x\frac{15}{60}x - \frac{12}{60}x + \frac{40}{60}x - \frac{24}{60}x

This simplifies to:

1512+402460x=1960x\frac{15 - 12 + 40 - 24}{60}x = \frac{19}{60}x

Step 4: Set up the equation:

1960x=1\frac{19}{60}x = 1

Step 5: Solve for x x by isolating it on one side of the equation. Multiply both sides by the reciprocal of 1960\frac{19}{60}, which is 6019\frac{60}{19}:

x=1×6019x = 1 \times \frac{60}{19}

x=6019x = \frac{60}{19}

Therefore, the solution to the problem is x=6019=157 x = \frac{60}{19} = \frac{15}{7} after simplifying the fraction.

Answer

157 \frac{15}{7}