Whenever you cross multiply, which side do you start with first? Do i start on the left or right?

Left or right does not really matter. What is important is where the unknown is located.

A rule of thumb is to multiply together the two numbers beside the unknown, and divide by the one across.

If a,b,c are known, and D is not known, and the equation looks like:
a c
-=-
b D
then you could write

D=c×b÷a

or for
a b
-=-
D c
then
D=a×c÷b

thankyou!

You're welcome!

The angryro

When using cross multiplication, you typically start with the left side of the equation.

To explain the process further, cross multiplication is commonly used when solving equations involving fractions. It is used to find the value of an unknown variable by comparing the products of the numerators and denominators on opposite sides of the equation.

Here's a step-by-step guide to using cross multiplication:

1. Identify the fractions involved in the equation. Let's say you have two fractions on opposite sides of the equal sign, like a/b = c/d.

2. Cross multiply by multiplying the numerator of the left fraction by the denominator of the right fraction, and vice versa. This can be done using a simple equation: (a * d = b * c).

3. Once you have performed the cross multiplication, you will obtain an equation in the form of a single product on each side of the equal sign. For example, ad = bc.

4. At this point, you can solve the equation to find the value of the unknown variable. This may require isolating the variable on one side of the equation and simplifying further if necessary.

To summarize, when it comes to cross multiplication, you begin with the left side of the equation and multiply the numerator of the left fraction by the denominator of the right fraction, while also multiplying the denominator of the left fraction by the numerator of the right fraction.