Question

How do you solve \[8x = 12\] ?

Answer 1

Hint: The given equation is an algebraic expression as it contains both numerical values and alphabets in one equation, where the unknown quantity is represented by the alphabet “x”. By solving the above equation, we mean to find the value of the unknown quantity. We need n equations to find the value of n unknown quantities, so the value of x can be found easily as 1 equation is given to us. To solve this equation, we will rearrange the terms such that one side contains only terms of x variable and the other side contains only constant values.

Complete step-by-step solution:
We are given that $8x = 12$
We will take 8 to the right-hand side –
$
  x = \dfrac{{12}}{8} \\
   \Rightarrow x = \dfrac{3}{2} \\
 $
Hence, when $8x = 12$ , we get $x = \dfrac{3}{2}$ .

Note: On taking the constant values on the right-hand side, we obtained a fraction $\dfrac{{12}}{8}$ . 12 is the numerator of this fraction, and 8 is present in the denominator. To find an accurate answer, we will simplify this fraction by prime factorization. Prime factorization is defined as the process of expressing a number as a product of its prime factors. Thus on expressing both the numerator and the denominator as a product of its prime factors, we will find out the factors that are present in both the numerator and the denominator and cancel out those factors. In the obtained fraction, 4 is common in both the numerator and the denominator, so on canceling them out we get a whole number as the answer