2.

3 Solving Equations Containing Fractions and Decimals

Objectives To successfully complete this section,

In this section, you will learn to: you need to understand:

• Solve equations containing fractions • Operations with real numbers (Chapter 1)

• Solve equations containing decimals • Combining like terms (1.9)
• The Distributive Property (1.10)
• Solving linear equations (2.1 and 2.2)
• Finding the least common denominator (??)

INTRODUCTION
In Section 2.1 we solved equations that contained fractions. For example,

2 8 2 -5 -8
To solve w – 5 = 5 , we add 5 to each side: To solve 15 = 8 y, we multiply each side by 5 :

2 8 -5
w – 5 = 5 15 = 8 y

2 2 8 2 -8 15 -8 -5
w – 5 + 5 = 5 + 5 5 1· = 5 · 8 y

10 -8 3
w + 0 = 5 1 · 1 = 1y
w = 2 -24 = y
y = -24

In some equations, though, it is easier—and more efficient—to clear any and all fractions, thereby
making all of the constants and coefficients into integers.

x 4 1
For example, the equation 9 + 3 = 2 x – 1 is easier to solve after its fractions are cleared and it
has only integer constants and coefficients: 2x + 24 = 9x – 18.

x 4 1
What is it that allows us to transform 9 + 3 = 2 x – 1 into 2x + 24 = 9x – 18? It is

1. our ability to find the least common denominator (LCD) for the three fractions (the LCD is 18);
2. our ability to multiply integers and fractions;
3. our ability to use the Distributive Property; and
4. our ability to apply the Multiplication Property of Equality:

Solving Equations Containing Fractions and Decimals page 2.3 - 1

 The Multiplication Property of Equality

We may multiply any non-zero number, c, to each side of an equation.

If a = b,
then c · a = c · b, c ≠ 0

x 4 1
Applying the Multiplication Property of Equality to an equation such as 9 + 3 = 2 x – 1 requires
that we first prepare the equation by grouping each side as one quantity, using parentheses:

x 4 1
 9 + 3 = (2 x – 1)
It is then that we can apply the Multiplication Property of Equality and multiply each side by 18:

x 4 1
18 ·  9 + 3 = 18 · 2 x – 1( )
The solving of this equation will be completed later in this section. To learn the process, let’s start with
some simpler equations.

EQUATIONS CONTAINING FRACTIONS

3
Let us start with an equation that contains just one fraction, 2x – 1 = 4 x + 9. It is possible to solve this
3
equation by first adding -4 x to each side, but to avoid the time-consuming work involved with
fractions, it is often helpful to first clear the fraction—or clear the denominator—and work only with
integers.

Caution: “Clearing the fractions” requires us to multiply each full side of the
equation—each and every term— by the same value, the common
denominator. We do not multiply only the terms containing fractions.

~Instructor Insight
To this point, students have never been asked to create their own parentheses, so this extra step of preparation is
introduced. After Example 1, it will become part of the multiplication step.

As stated above, and as shown in Example 1, we must prepare the 3

equation for multiplication by grouping each side using parentheses:
(2x – 1) = (4 x + 9)

Solving Equations Containing Fractions and Decimals page 2.3 - 2

 Example 1: Solve this equation by first clearing the fraction(s).
3
2x – 1 = 4 x + 9

Procedure: There is only one fraction. Multiply each side by 4 to clear the fraction.
3 The LCD is 4. Prepare the equation by placing
Answer: 2x – 1 = 4 x + 9 parentheses around each side.

3
(2x – 1) = (4 x + 9) Multiply each side by 4.

Distribute 4, on each side, to each term. To multiply 4

3
4(2x – 1) = 4 ( 4x +9) 3 4
to the fraction 4 x, it is helpful to write 4 as 1.

4 3 4 3
4 · 2x – 4 · 1 = 1 · 4 x + 4 · 9 1 · 4 x simplifies to 3x.

Reduce this to standard form

8x – 4 = 3x + 36 by adding -3x to each side. Verify the solution, 8:

3
8x + (-3x) – 4 = 3x + (-3x) + 36 Simplify each side. 2x – 1 = 4 x + 9

Isolate the variable term by ? 3

5x – 4 = 36 adding +4 to each side. 2(8) – 1 = 4 (8) + 9

? 3 8
5x – 4 + 4 = 36 + 4 Simplify each side. 16 – 1 = 4 ·1 +9
? 3 2
5x = 40 Divide each side by 5. 15 = 1 ·1 +9

5x 40 ?
5 = 5 Simplify. 15 = 6+9

x =8  15 = 15 

Note: The two steps of

1. preparing the equation for multiplication by placing parentheses around each side, and

2. showing the multiplication by the LCD

can be combined into one step, just as they are in the next example.

Solving Equations Containing Fractions and Decimals page 2.3 - 3

If an equation contains more than one fraction, then to clear all fractions, we must multiply by the least
common denominator (LCD) of all the denominators. If the fractions already have a common
denominator, then we multiply each side by that common denominator, as shown in Example 2.

Example 2: Solve this equation by first clearing the fractions.

3w 9
2 +1=w+2

Procedure: There is only one denominator, 2. Multiply each side by 2 to clear the fractions.

3w 9 The LCD is 2. Prepare the equation by placing

Answer: 2 +1= w+2 parentheses around each side. Multiply each side by 2.

 3w   9 Distribute 2, on each side, to each term.

2 2 + 1 = 2 w + 2  2
Write 2 as 1 when multiplying the fractions

2 3w 2 9 2 3w 2 9
1 · 2 +2·1 = 2·w+1 ·2 1 · 2 simplifies to 3w; 1 · 2 simplifies to 9.

Reduce this to standard form

3w + 2 = 2w + 9 by adding -2w to each side. Verify the solution, 7:

3w 9
3w + (-2w) + 2 = 2w + (-2w) + 9 Simplify each side. 2 +1 = w+2
Isolate the variable term by 3(7) ? 9
w+2= 9 adding -2 to each side. + 1 = 7+2
2

21 2 ? 14 9
w + 2 + (-2) = 9 + (-2) Simplify. =
2 +2 2 +2

w = 7  23 23
2 = 2 

Solving Equations Containing Fractions and Decimals page 2.3 - 4

 YTI 1 Solve each equation by first clearing the fractions. Verify the solution. Use Examples
1 and 2 as guides.

x 4
a) 3 =x+4 b) m–3=5 m–2

x 2x 1 3w
c) 5 –4=2– 5 d) 2 +w = 8– 2

FRACTIONS WITH DIFFERENT DENOMINATORS

If the denominators are different, we must identify the LCD before we multiply. Then, to clear the
fractions, we must multiply each side by the LCD.

Solving Equations Containing Fractions and Decimals page 2.3 - 5

 Example 3: Solve each equation by first clearing the fractions.

x 5x y 1 y 1
a) 3 + 1 = 6 – 3 b) 4 + 12 = 3 – 6

Procedure: First identify the LCD, then multiply each side of the equation by the LCD to clear
the fractions.

Answer:

x 5x The LCD is 6. Prepare the equation by placing

a) 3 +1= 6 –3 parentheses around each side. Multiply each side by 6.

x   5x  6
6 3 + 1 = 6 6 – 3 Distribute 6, or 1 , on each side, to each term.

6 x 6 5x
1 ·3 +6·1= 1 · 6 –6·3 Simplify.

Reduce this to standard form

2x + 6 = 5x – 18 by adding -2x to each side.

2x + (-2x) + 6 = 5x + (-2x) – 18 Simplify.

Isolate the variable term

6 = 3x – 18 by adding 18 to each side.

6 + 18 = 3x – 18 + 18 Simplify. You finish it:

Verify that 8 is the solution.
24 = 3x Divide each side by 3.

24 3x
3 = 3

8= x
x= 8 

Solving Equations Containing Fractions and Decimals page 2.3 - 6

 y 1 y 1 The LCD is 12. Prepare the equation by placing
b) 4 + 12 = 3 –6 parentheses around each side. Multiply each side by 12.

 y 1  y 1 12
12 4 + 12 = 12 3 – 6  Distribute 12, or 1 , on each side, to each term.

12 y 12 1 12 y 12 1
1 · 4 + 1 · 12 = 1 · 3 – 1 · 6 Simplify.

Reduce this to standard form

3y + 1 = 4y – 2 by adding -3y to each side.

3y + (-3y) + 1 = 4y + (-3y) – 2 Verify the solution, 3:

Isolate the variable term by y 1 ? y 1

1 = y–2 + =
adding +2 to each side. 4 12 3 –6

3 1 ? 3 1
1+2 = y–2+2 Simplify. + =
4 12 3 –6

9 1 ? 6 1
3 = y =
12 + 12 6 –6

10 ?
y = 3  12
=
5
6
5 5
6 = 6 

YTI 2 Solve each equation by first identifying the LCD and clearing the fractions. Verify
the solution. Use Example 3 as a guide.

3y y p p
a) 4 – 6 = 8 + 4 b) p – 6 = 3 + 2

Solving Equations Containing Fractions and Decimals page 2.3 - 7

 3x 1 x 1 w 11 1 w
c) 20 + 10 = 4 – 5 d) 4 + 12 = 2 – 6

EQUATIONS CONTAINING DECIMALS

Recall from Section 1.2 that terminating decimals are rational numbers (fractions) in which the
3 25
denominators are powers of 10, such as 10, 100, and so on. For example, 0.3 = 10 and 0.25 = 100 .

3 25
Consider an equation that contains these two fraction: 10 x = 100 x + 1. We can clear the fractions by
multiplying each side by the LCD of 100, changing it to an equation of integers: 30x = 25x + 100.

If this same equation is written with decimals instead of fractions, it would be 0.3x = 0.25x + 1.
Because this is the same equation, we also can multiply each side by 100, but this time we will clear the
decimals.

One major distinction, when clearing decimals, is to prepare the equation by first writing each constant
and coefficient with the same number of decimal places.

For example, each number in the equation 0.3x = 0.25x + 1 can be written with two decimal places:

• For 0.3, we can place one zero at the end of the number: 0.3 = 0.30

• For 1, we can place a decimal point and two zeros at the end of the number: 1 = 1.00

• 0.25 already has two decimal places, so no change is necessary.

Solving Equations Containing Fractions and Decimals page 2.3 - 8

The equation becomes 0.30x = 0.25x + 1.00. Now having two decimal places, each number is in terms
of hundredths, and we can clear the decimals by multiplying each side by 100:

Multiplying by 100 has the effect of moving

100(0.30x) = 100(0.25x + 1.00) the decimal point two places to the right.

30x = 25x + 100

It is now an equation of integers, and we can solve it using the techniques learned earlier in this chapter.

Preparing an equation by creating an equal number of decimal places is an important first step when
clearing decimals in an equation.

Example 4: For each equation,

• What number of decimal places should each constant and coefficient have?
• Prepare the equation by building up each number, as necessary.
• By what number should we multiply each side of the equation to clear the decimals?

a) 0.4x – 1.2 = 0.15x + 0.8 b) 0.12y – 1 = 0.095y – 0.9

Procedure: For each equation, the constant or coefficient with the highest number of decimal
places indicates the number of decimal places each should have.

a) 0.15 has two decimal places so we should build up each number to have two
decimal places

b) 0.008 has three decimal places so we should build up each number to have three
decimal places

Number of Multiply
decimal places New equation each side by

Answer: a) Two 0.40x – 1.20 = 0.15x + 0.80 100

b) Three 0.120y – 1.000 = 0.095y – 0.900 1,000

Solving Equations Containing Fractions and Decimals page 2.3 - 9

 YTI 3 For each equation,

• Decide the number of decimal places each constant and coefficient should have;
• Prepare the equation by building up each number, as necessary; and
• Decide what number to multiply each side of the equation to clear the decimals.

Number of Multiply
decimal places New equation each side by

a) 2w – 0.4 = 1 + 1.8w

b) 0.17k – 0.43 = 0.25k + 0.05

c) 0.27v – 1.6 = 0.32v – 2

d) 0.1x – 0.006 = 0.08x + 0.134

Example 5: Solve the equation by first clearing the decimals.

a) 0.4x – 1.2 = 0.15x + 0.8 b) 0.12y – 1 = 0.095y – 0.9

Procedure: Use the information from the pervious example to prepare the equation for clearing
the decimals.

Answer:
Write each decimal so that it
a) 0.4x – 1.2 = 0.15x + 0.8 has two decimal places.

Prepare the equation by placing parentheses

0.40x – 1.20 = 0.15x + 0.80 around each side. Multiply each side by 100.

Distribute. Multiplying by
100(0.40x – 1.20) = 100(0.15x + 0.80) 100 will clear all decimals.

Reduce this to standard form

40x – 120 = 15x + 80 by adding -15x to each side.

40x + (-15x) – 120 = 15x + (-15x) + 80 Simplify.

Solving Equations Containing Fractions and Decimals page 2.3 - 10

 Isolate the variable term
25x – 120 = 80 by adding 120 to each side.

25x – 120 + 120 = 80 + 120 Simplify. Verify the solution, 8:

Divide each ?
25x = 200 side by 25. 0.4(8) – 1.2 = 0.15(8) + 0.8

25x 200 ?
25 = 25 200 ÷ 25 = 8 3.2 – 1.2 = 1.20 + 0.8

x = 8  2.0 = 2.0 

Write each decimal so that it

b) 0.12y – 1 = 0.095y – 0.9 has three decimal places.

Prepare the equation by placing parentheses

0.120y – 1.000 = 0.095y – 0.900 around each side. Multiply each side by 1,000.

Distribute. Multiplying by
1,000(0.120y – 1.000) = 1,000(0.095y – 0.900) 1,000 will clear all decimals.

Reduce this to standard form

120y – 1,000 = 95y – 900 by adding -95y to each side.

120y + (-95y) – 1,000 = 95y + (-95y) – 900 Simplify.

Isolate the variable term

25y – 1,000 = -900 by adding 1,000 to each side.

25y – 1,000 + 1,000 = -900 + 1,000 Simplify. You finish it:

Verify that 4 is the solution.
Divide each
25y = 100 side by 25.

25y 100
25 = 25 100 ÷ 25 = 4

x = 4 

Solving Equations Containing Fractions and Decimals page 2.3 - 11

 YTI 4 Solve the equation by first clearing the decimals. Verify the solution. Use Example 5
as a guide.

b) 2w – 0.4 = 1 + 1.8w b) 0.17k – 0.43 = 0.25k + 0.05

c) 0.27v – 1.6 = 0.32v – 2 d) 0.1x – 0.006 = 0.08x + 0.134

SOLVING EQUATIONS: THE ULTIMATE GUIDELINES

Here is a summary of the steps involved in solving a variety of linear equations. Not all steps will be
necessary for each equation; you should apply the guidelines in the order presented here but may skip
any guideline that does not apply. For example, if an equation has no fractions, you may skip guideline
(2) and proceed to guideline (3).

Solving Linear Equations: The Ultimate Guidelines

The Preparation:
1. Eliminate any parentheses by distributing.
2. Clear any fractions or decimals by multiplying each side by the equation’s LCD.
3. Combine like terms on each individual side.
Isolating the Variable:
4. If necessary, reduce the equation to standard form.
5. If necessary, isolate the variable term then finish solving.

Solving Equations Containing Fractions and Decimals page 2.3 - 12

The Ultimate Guidelines say that parentheses should be cleared first. This is true even if fractions are
involved; in other words, if an equation has both fractions (or decimals) and parentheses, then it is best
to clear the parentheses before trying to clear any fractions (or decimals).

Example 6: Solve each equation and verify the solution.

1 2
a) 2 x + 3  = 3(x – 1) b) 0.2(3y – 5) = 0.15(2y + 3) – 0.85

Procedure: First distribute, then clear the fractions or decimals.

Answer:
1 2 1 2 1
a) 2  x + 3  = 3(x – 1) Distribute and simplify; 2 · 3 = 3

1 1 The LCD is 6. Prepare the equation by placing

2 x + 3 = 3x – 3 parentheses around each side. Multiply each side by 6.

6 1 1 6 1 6 1
1  2 x + 3 = 6(3x – 3) Simplify: 1 ·2 x = 3x and 1 · 3 = 2.

Reduce this to standard form

3x + 2 = 18x – 18 by adding -3x to each side.

3x + (-3x) + 2 = 18x + (-3x) – 18 Simplify.

Isolate the variable term by

2 = 15x – 18 adding +18 to each side.

4
2 + 18 = 15x – 18 + 18 Verify the solution 3 :

Divide each 1 2
20 = 15x side by 15. ( )
2 x+3 = 3(x – 1)
20 15x 1 4 2 4
15 = 15 Simplify. 2 (3 + 3 ) ( )
= 3 3–1

4 1 6 4 3
3 = x 2 (3 ) = 3 (3 – 3 )
4
x = 3 
6 3 1
6 = 1 (3 )
1 = 1 

Solving Equations Containing Fractions and Decimals page 2.3 - 13

 b) 0.2(3y – 5) = 0.15(2y + 3) – 0.85 Distribute.

Write each decimal so that

0.6y – 1.0 = 0.30y + 0.45 – 0.85 it has two decimal places.

Prepare the equation by placing parentheses

0.60y – 1.00 = 0.30y + 0.45 – 0.85 around each side. Multiply each side by 100.

100(0.60y – 1.00) = (0.30y + 0.45 – 0.85)100

Combine like terms

60y – 100 = 30y + 45 – 85 on the right side.

Reduce this to standard form

60y – 100 = 30y – 40 by adding -30y to each side.

60y + (-30y) – 100 = 30y + (-30y) – 40 Simplify. You finish it:

Verify that 2 is the solution.
Add 100 to
30y – 100 = -40 each side.

Add 100 to
30y – 100 + 100 = -40 + 100 each side.

Divide each
30y = 60 side by 30.

30y 60
30 = 30

y= 2

Solving Equations Containing Fractions and Decimals page 2.3 - 14

 YTI 5 Solve each equation and verify the solution. Use example 6 as a guide.

1 1 1
a) 2 (2h – 1) = 3 2h + 2 b) 0.5(p + 3) = 3(0.1 + 0.16p)

1 1 1 1
c) 8 (3y + 2) = 4  2y + 2  + 2 d) 0.6(10n – 3) = 1.5(n + 2) – 0.3

Solving Equations Containing Fractions and Decimals page 2.3 - 15

 Answers: You Try It and Think About It
YTI 1: a) x = -6 b) m = 5 c) x = 10 d) w = 3

YTI 2: a) y = 16 b) p = 4 c) x = 3 d) w = -1

YTI 3: a) One; 2.0w – 0.4 = 1.0 + 1.8w; 10

b) Two; 0.17k – 0.43 = 0.25k + 0.05; 100
c) Two; 0.27v – 1.60 = 0.32v – 2.00; 100
d) Three; 0.100x – 0.006 = 0.080x + 0.134; 1,000

YTI 4: a) w = 7 b) k = -6 c) v = 8 d) x = 7

YTI 5: a) h = 2 b) p = -60 c) y = -3 d) n = 1

Think About It:

There are no Think About It exercises in this section.

Section 2.3 Exercises

Think Again.

1 1 
1. Consider the equation 2x + 1 = 4 2 x + 4 . What is the least common denominator on the right
side of this equation?

2. If an equation contains decimals, why is it helpful for all of the constants and coefficients to have
the same number of decimal places?

Focus Exercises.

Solve each equation. Verify your answer.

3x 3
3. x + 4 = 7 4. t – 6= 2 t

y 8 5
5. y – 4 = 12 6. 3 + x = 3 x

Solving Equations Containing Fractions and Decimals page 2.3 - 16

 3 z y
7. z + 5 = 5 8. 6 = y + 5

7 1 4 5
9. 4 h = 4 h – 12w 10. 9 w + 5 = 9

1 6w x 4x
11. w + 7 = 7 – 1 12. 6 + 5 = 5 – 3

y 5y m 4m
13. 8 + 6 = 6 – 8 14. 2 + 2 = 5 + 2

n 5 w 8w
15. 2 – 8 = 4n + 8 16. 3 + 5 = 3 – 2

5y 2y p p
17. 2 – 9 = 3 + 2 18. p – 8 = 4 – 10

5 2 3 y 7
19. 1 – 8 x = 2 – 3 x 20. y + 4 = 4 + 8

2r 1 2r 5 1 5
21. 3 + 9 = 2r – 9 22. 8 + 6 z = 12 + z

3x 1 x 1 5t 3 1 5t
23. 5 + 6 = 2 – 3 24. 9 – 4 = 12 + 8

1 3 9 1 1 2 1 9
25. 3 x + 5 x = 10 x – 15 26. 4 p + 5 p = 2 p – 20

27. 0.6x – 3.2 = 0.4 – 0.3x 28. 0.29x – 0.25 = 0.43x + 0.03

29. 0.2x + 0.5 = 0.7x – 4 30. 0.3x + 1.38 = 0.24x + 1.2

31. 0.2y – 0.3 = 0.4 – 0.5y 32. 0.7 – 0.5x = 1.2x – 2.7

Solving Equations Containing Fractions and Decimals page 2.3 - 17

33. -1.6 – 0.9w = 11.6 + 2.4w 34. 0.25r – 1.25 = 0.55 – 0.35r

35. 0.128 – 0.035v = -0.072v + 0.235 36. 0.3x + 4.2 = 0.1x + 4

37. 0.7p – 0.4 = 3.52 – 0.28p 38. 4.72n – 0.1 = 8 + 0.67n

39. 0.48x – 1.9 = 0.54x – 4 40. 0.1m + 0.008 = 0.06m – 0.172

41. -0.51x – 3.2 = 0.8x + 7.28 42. -0.32v + 0.18v = 0.25v – 1.95

1 2 1 1 1 
43. 5 (5x – 3) = 3 x + 2 44. 4 (2y + 3) = 3 3 – y

1 1 1 1 3 2 4
45. 6 (1 – 6x) = -3  6x + 2  46. 22t – 4 + 5 = 5 t

3 3  3 1
47. 8 (m + 8) – 16 = 2m + 4  + 2 48. 0.3(x + 5) = 5(0.1 + 0.11x)

49. 3.75 – 2.5(p + 1) = 0.5p + 4.25 50. 2.3y = 0.15(2y – 3) – 0.6

Think Outside the Box:

Solve each.

2x – 18 3x + 1 x+9 x–7
51. 4 = 2 52. 5 = 10

x+3 x x–5 x
53. 8 – 2 = 5 54. 6 = 4 – 1

Solving Equations Containing Fractions and Decimals page 2.3 - 18