MATH 060

Instructor: Hao-Nhien Q. Vu
TTh 1:30-3:35, Room A-107

NOTES on homework for Section 3.2

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#61/ Solve: 3 − w = −9
5

4 4
Most of you got to: − w = −12 and then got stuck. The point here is that the fraction − is a
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number just like any other, so to get down to w = something, just divide both sides by the
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number before the w, namely, divide both sides by −
5

− 12 ⎛ 5⎞
w= = (−12) • ⎜ − ⎟ = +15
⎛ 4⎞ ⎝ 4⎠
⎜− ⎟
⎝ 5⎠

#91/ This is an exercise in reading the problem and knowing what it’s asking for. All it’s asking
is what the coefficient of y would be after you move all the y terms to the left side. The problem
is not asking you to solve the equation. (If you do solve it, you get y=1.)

#143/ The problem gives four equations and ask which ones would have the same solution. Well,
if the equations are alike then they have the same solutions. So, just expand everything out and
see which equations are the same.

#206/ The question asks: “One-half of a certain number equals two-thirds of the same number.
Find the number.”

1 2
Many of you wrote down the correct equation for this problem: n= n
2 3
Then apparently you got stuck.

Again, the point is that fractions are numbers just like any other. So, to solve this equation, you
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do the same thing: Move all the n terms to the left side, by subtracting n both sides.
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1 2
n− n =0
2 3

Make common denominator:

3 2 1
n − n = 0 or: n=0
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1
Divide both sides by , you get n = 0
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