Pre-Algebra : One-Step Equations with Decimals

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Pre-Algebra

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Example Questions

Example Question #51 : One Step Equations With Decimals

Solve:  \(\displaystyle 0.1x = 1000\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 999.9\)

\(\displaystyle 100\)

\(\displaystyle 10000\)

\(\displaystyle 1000.1\)

\(\displaystyle 10\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 10000\)

Explanation:

In order to solve the equation, we have to isolate the variable. We do this by performing the same operation to either side of the equation.

Divide both sides by \(\displaystyle 0.1\) to isolate the variable.

\(\displaystyle \frac{0.1x }{0.1}= \frac{1000}{0.1}\)

Decimals may be written as fractions. 

\(\displaystyle 0.1=\frac{1}{10}\)

Dividing by a fraction is the same as multiplying by its reciprocal:

\(\displaystyle \frac{1000}{1}\times \frac{10}{1}\)

Therefore,

\(\displaystyle x=10000\).

Example Question #52 : One Step Equations With Decimals

Solve:  \(\displaystyle 0.003x = 3.3\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 1000\)

\(\displaystyle 1001\)

\(\displaystyle 1100\)

\(\displaystyle 1010\)

\(\displaystyle 100\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 1100\)

Explanation:

In order to solve the equation, we have to isolate the variable. We do this by performing the same operation to either side of the equation.

Divide \(\displaystyle 0.003\) on both sides to isolate the unknown variable.

\(\displaystyle \frac{0.003x}{0.003} = \frac{3.3}{0.003}\)

Decimals may be written as fractions. 

\(\displaystyle 0.003=\frac{3}{1000}\)

Dividing by a fraction is the same as multiplying by its reciprocal:

\(\displaystyle 3.3\times \frac{1000}{3}\)

\(\displaystyle x= 1100\)

Example Question #351 : Algebraic Equations

Solve:  \(\displaystyle 0.6x = 24\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{4}\)

\(\displaystyle 4\)

\(\displaystyle 0.04\)

\(\displaystyle 400\)

\(\displaystyle 40\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 40\)

Explanation:

In order to solve the equation, we have to isolate the variable. We do this by performing the same operation to either side of the equation.

To solve for \(\displaystyle x\), divide both sides by \(\displaystyle 0.6\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{0.6x }{0.6}= \frac{24}{0.6}\)

Decimals may be written as fractions. 

\(\displaystyle 0.6=\frac{6}{10}\)

Dividing by a fraction is the same as multiplying by its reciprocal:

Substitute and solve.

\(\displaystyle x=\frac{24}{1}\times\frac{10}{6}\)

\(\displaystyle x=\frac{240}{6}=\frac{6\cdot 40}{6}\)

The six in the numerator and in the denominator cancel out and we are left with the final answer,

\(\displaystyle x=40\).

Example Question #911 : Pre Algebra

Solve:  \(\displaystyle 0.123+x = 456\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 3.33\)

\(\displaystyle 455.877\)

\(\displaystyle 0.455877\)

\(\displaystyle 0.333\)

\(\displaystyle 333\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 455.877\)

Explanation:

In order to solve for \(\displaystyle x\), subtract \(\displaystyle 0.123\) from both sides.

\(\displaystyle 0.123+x -0.123= 456-0.123\)

\(\displaystyle x=455.877\)

Example Question #54 : One Step Equations With Decimals

Evaluate:  

\(\displaystyle 0.09x = 27\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 30\)

\(\displaystyle 300\)

\(\displaystyle 3000\)

\(\displaystyle 27.09\)

\(\displaystyle 26.91\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 300\)

Explanation:

In order to solve the equation, we have to isolate the variable. We do this by performing the same operation to either side of the equation.

Solve by dividing \(\displaystyle 0.09\) on both sides of the equation.  Move the decimal two places to the right.

\(\displaystyle \frac{0.09x}{0.09} = \frac{27}{0.09} =\frac{2700}{9}\)

Now factor the numerator to find values that can cancel out.

\(\displaystyle \frac{2700}{9}=\frac{9\cdot 300}{9}\)

The nine in the numerator and denominator reduce to one and we are left with our final answer,

\(\displaystyle x=300\).

Example Question #52 : One Step Equations With Decimals

Solve:  \(\displaystyle 0.39x = 7.8\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 0.741\)

\(\displaystyle 20\)

\(\displaystyle 2\)

\(\displaystyle 7.41\)

\(\displaystyle 200\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 20\)

Explanation:

Divide \(\displaystyle 0.39\) on both sides of the equation.

\(\displaystyle \frac{0.39x}{0.39} = \frac{7.8}{0.39}\)

\(\displaystyle x=20\)

Example Question #53 : One Step Equations With Decimals

Solve:  

\(\displaystyle 2.02x= -0.202\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 0.1\)

\(\displaystyle -0.1\)

\(\displaystyle -100\)

\(\displaystyle -10\)

\(\displaystyle -0.01\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle -0.1\)

Explanation:

Divide by \(\displaystyle 2.02\) on both sides of the equation.

\(\displaystyle \frac{2.02x}{2.02}=\frac{ -0.202}{2.02}\)

Decimals may be written as fractions. 

\(\displaystyle -0.202=-\frac{202}{1000}; 2.02=\frac{202}{100}\)

Dividing by a fraction is the same as multiplying by its reciprocal:

Substitute and solve.

\(\displaystyle x=-\frac{202}{1000}\times\frac{100}{202}\)

\(\displaystyle x=-0.1\)

Example Question #55 : One Step Equations With Decimals

Solve:  \(\displaystyle x-0.56 = 1.4\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 0.69\)

\(\displaystyle 1.52\)

\(\displaystyle 1.6\)

\(\displaystyle 1.96\)

\(\displaystyle 1.16\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 1.96\)

Explanation:

Add \(\displaystyle 0.56\) on both sides of the equation.

\(\displaystyle x-0.56 +0.56= 1.4+0.56\)

\(\displaystyle x= 1.40+0.56\)

\(\displaystyle x= 1.96\)

Example Question #352 : Algebraic Equations

Solve:  \(\displaystyle 0.6x = 36\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 6\)

\(\displaystyle 72\)

\(\displaystyle 60\)

\(\displaystyle 216\)

\(\displaystyle 96\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 60\)

Explanation:

In order to solve the equation, we have to isolate the variable. We do this by performing the same operation to either side of the equation.

To isolate the variable, divide both sides by \(\displaystyle 0.6\).

\(\displaystyle \frac{0.6x}{0.6} = \frac{36}{0.6}\)

Decimals may be written as fractions. 

\(\displaystyle 0.6=\frac{6}{10}\)

Dividing by a fraction is the same as multiplying by its reciprocal:

\(\displaystyle \frac{36}{1}\times \frac{10}{6}=\frac{360}{6}\)

Now factor the numerator to find like terms that can reduce.

\(\displaystyle \frac{360}{6}=\frac{60\cdot 6}{6}\)

The six in the numerator and denominator reduce to one and the final solution becomes,

\(\displaystyle x=60\).

Example Question #171 : One Step Equations

Solve:  \(\displaystyle 2x = 0.003\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 0.015\)

\(\displaystyle 0.15\)

\(\displaystyle 0.0015\)

\(\displaystyle 0.006\)

\(\displaystyle 0.06\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 0.0015\)

Explanation:

Solve by dividing both sides by 2.

\(\displaystyle \frac{2x}{2} = \frac{0.003}{2}\)

The fraction on the right side of the equation can be rewritten as:

\(\displaystyle x= \frac{0.003}{2} = \frac{\frac{3}{1000}}{2}\)

Dividing by two is also similar to multiplying by one half.

\(\displaystyle x= \frac{3}{1000} \times \frac{1}{2}= \frac{3}{2000}\)

\(\displaystyle x=0.0015\)

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