Solve for a.
a/a+5 - 2 = 3a/a+5
a/a+5 - 2 = 3a/a+5
a=-5/2
Is a+5 the proper LCD to isolate from the equation in order to obtain -5/2?
Yes.
Thank you!!
I combined the terms when I isolated the LCD and received the following:
a^2 +5a - 2a - 10 = 3a^2 + 15a
etc..until I received:
2a^2 + 12a + 10 = 0
I wasn't sure what step to complete in order to obtain -5/2 as my final answer.
To solve for a in the equation:
a/(a+5) - 2 = 3a/(a+5)
First, let's simplify the equation by finding a common denominator for the fractions in the equation, which is (a+5).
Multiply both sides of the equation by (a+5) to eliminate the denominators:
((a+5) * a) / (a+5) - 2(a+5) = (3a * (a+5)) / (a+5)
Simplifying this further:
a - 2(a+5) = 3a
Distribute -2:
a - 2a - 10 = 3a
Combine like terms:
-a - 10 = 3a
Add a to both sides of the equation:
-10 = 4a
Divide by 4:
-10/4 = a
Simplify further:
-5/2 = a
Therefore, the solution for a is -5/2.