College Math Placement Practice Test

In solving 5x - 18 = x/2, what do you need to do to eliminate the fraction?

1. Multiply both sides by 2.

2. Add 18 to both sides.

3. Subtract x from both sides.

4. Divide both sides by 5.

The correct answer is: Multiply both sides by 2.

To eliminate the fraction in the equation \(5x - 18 = \frac{x}{2}\), multiplying both sides by 2 is the appropriate action. This is because the fraction on the right-hand side, \(\frac{x}{2}\), can be removed by scaling the entire equation by 2. When you multiply both sides of the equation by 2, the left side becomes \(2(5x - 18)\), which simplifies to \(10x - 36\), and the right side becomes \(x\). This transformation effectively eliminates the fraction, allowing you to work with a linear equation in a standard format without dealing with fractions. Thus, by multiplying both sides by 2, you achieve a simplified expression that can be solved more easily. This method ensures that all terms can be handled as whole numbers, reducing the complexity of the equation as you proceed with solving it.