Exercise 3 Page 143

To solve an equation, we should first gather all of the variable terms on one side and all of the constant terms on the other side using the Properties of Equality. In this case, the only variable term is already on the left-hand side of the equation. Using the Multiplication Property of Equality, we will eliminate the fraction.

- m/4=5

MoveNegFracToDenom

Put minus sign in denominator

m/- 4=5

MultEqn

LHS * (- 4)=RHS* (- 4)

m/- 4 * (- 4)=5 (- 4)

FracMultDenomToNumber

a/(- 4)* (- 4) = a

m=5 (- 4)

MultPosNeg

a(- b)=- a * b

m=- 5* 4

Multiply

Multiply

m=- 20

The solution to the equation is m=- 20. We can check our solution by substituting it into the original equation.

- m/4=5

Substitute

m= - 20

- - 20/4 ? =5

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Simplify

MoveNegFracToDenom

Put minus sign in denominator

- 20/- 4 ? =5

DivNegNeg

- a/- b=a/b

20/4 ? =5

CalcQuot

Calculate quotient

5=5

Since the left-hand side is equal to the right-hand side, our solution is correct.