There are a bunch of topics in math that scare the students. Fractional equation is one of them. It may seem a bit hard at first but the solution is not that difficult.
A fractional equation is one in which one or more terms are fractions. To settle a fragmentary condition
To solve fractional equations, follow these steps:
Step 1
Clear the fractions by multiplying both sides of the equation by the least common multiple (LCM) of the denominators. This will eliminate the denominators and leave you with a polynomial equation.
Step 2
Simplify the resulting equation by distributing and combining like terms.
Step 3
Solve the resulting equation using algebraic techniques such as factoring, completing the square, or using the quadratic formula.
Step 4
Check your solution by plugging it back into the original equation and verifying that it satisfies the equation.
Here’s an example:
Solve for x:
(2/x) + 1 = (1/2)
Step 1: Multiply both sides by the LCM of the denominators, which is 2x. This gives:
2 + x = x/2
Step 2: Simplify by combining like terms:
x/2 – x = -2
-x/2 = -2
Step 3: Multiply both sides by -2 to isolate x:
x = 4
Step 4: Check by plugging x = 4 back into the original equation:
(2/4) + 1 = (1/2)
1/2 + 1 = 1/2
The solution checks out, so x = 4 is the correct solution.
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