We're learning about proportions and ratios, and I'm confused about this question (they're fractions, by the way):
8/15 = 24/x
A. x = 60
B. x = 12.8
C. x = 5
D. x = 45
I did the math, and I got x = 18. That's obviously not correct, but I can't figure out what I did wrong.
Now that I think about it, I think the answer is D, since that makes the most sense. I didn't even have to do the work, it's so obvious that that's the right answer-
way to think
8/15 = 24/x
multiply both sides by 15 x
8 x = 24 * 15
x = 3 * 15
x = 45 indeed
To solve this proportion, you need to use cross-multiplication.
Let's break it down step by step:
1. First, write the proportion as an equation:
8/15 = 24/x
2. Cross-multiply: Multiply the numerator of the first fraction with the denominator of the second fraction, and vice versa.
(8 * x) = (15 * 24)
8x = 360
3. Solve for x by dividing both sides of the equation by 8:
x = 360/8
x = 45
So the correct answer is D. x = 45.
It seems that you might have made a computational error while dividing 360 by 8, which is why you ended up with x = 18 instead of the correct answer x = 45. Double-check your calculations to ensure accurate results.