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What am I doing wrong here?

Okay I have this question, but I am getting the wrong answer, where am I going wrong?

1 1/4 (4-2x) = 5/14 (6x+1)

So first I make it look nicer

5 (4-2x) / 4 = 5 (6x+1) / 14

Then I cross multiply

70(4-2x) = 20(6x+1)

Then multiply out he brackets

280-140x = 120x + 20

And then rearrange

140x-120x = 280+20 = 300, but that's not the answer, what have I done wrong?

Reply 1

username1854431

Original post by theoallen

Okay I have this question, but I am getting the wrong answer, where am I going wrong?

1 1/4 (4-2x) = 5/14 (6x+1)

So first I make it look nicer

5 (4-2x) / 4 = 20 (not 5) (6x+1) / 14

Then I cross multiply

70(4-2x) = 20(6x+1)

Then multiply out he brackets

280-140x = 120x + 20

And then rearrange

140x-120x = 280+20 = 300, but that's not the answer, what have I done wrong?

You didn't multiply the right hand side by 5

Reply 2

natninja

Original post by theoallen

Is x=1 the answer by any chance?

You seem to have done your final rearranging wrong.

Reply 3

Zacken

Original post by theoallen

280-140x = 120x + 20

And then rearrange

140x-120x = 280+20 = 300, but that's not the answer, what have I done wrong?

That's almost right. You should use more steps:

280 - 140x = 120x + 20

Move the 140x over (it becomes a +)

280 = 140x + 120x + 20

Move the 20 over (it becomes a -)

280 - 20 = 140x + 120x

Simplify and solve.

Reply 4

natninja