Basic Math Examples

$3 - \frac{15}{8 a} = 0$

Step 1

Subtract $3$ from both sides of the equation.

$- \frac{15}{8 a} = - 3$

Step 2

Find the LCD of the terms in the equation.

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Step 2.1

Finding the LCD of a list of values is the same as finding the LCM of the denominators of those values.

$8 a, 1$

Step 2.2

The LCM of one and any expression is the expression.

$8 a$

Step 3

Multiply each term in $- \frac{15}{8 a} = - 3$ by $8 a$ to eliminate the fractions.

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Step 3.1

Multiply each term in $- \frac{15}{8 a} = - 3$ by $8 a$ .

$- \frac{15}{8 a} (8 a) = - 3 (8 a)$

Step 3.2

Simplify the left side.

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Step 3.2.1

Cancel the common factor of $8 a$ .

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Step 3.2.1.1

Move the leading negative in $- \frac{15}{8 a}$ into the numerator.

$\frac{- 15}{8 a} (8 a) = - 3 (8 a)$

Step 3.2.1.2

Cancel the common factor.

$\frac{- 15}{8 a} (8 a) = - 3 (8 a)$

Step 3.2.1.3

Rewrite the expression.

$- 15 = - 3 (8 a)$

Step 3.3

Simplify the right side.

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Step 3.3.1

Multiply $8$ by $- 3$ .

$- 15 = - 24 a$

Step 4

Solve the equation.

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Step 4.1

Rewrite the equation as $- 24 a = - 15$ .

$- 24 a = - 15$

Step 4.2

Divide each term in $- 24 a = - 15$ by $- 24$ and simplify.

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Step 4.2.1

Divide each term in $- 24 a = - 15$ by $- 24$ .

$\frac{- 24 a}{- 24} = \frac{- 15}{- 24}$

Step 4.2.2

Simplify the left side.

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Step 4.2.2.1

Cancel the common factor of $- 24$ .

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Step 4.2.2.1.1

Cancel the common factor.

$\frac{- 24 a}{- 24} = \frac{- 15}{- 24}$

Step 4.2.2.1.2

Divide $a$ by $1$ .

$a = \frac{- 15}{- 24}$

Step 4.2.3

Simplify the right side.

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Step 4.2.3.1

Cancel the common factor of $- 15$ and $- 24$ .

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Step 4.2.3.1.1

Factor $- 3$ out of $- 15$ .

$a = \frac{- 3 (5)}{- 24}$

Step 4.2.3.1.2

Cancel the common factors.

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Step 4.2.3.1.2.1

Factor $- 3$ out of $- 24$ .

$a = \frac{- 3 \cdot 5}{- 3 \cdot 8}$

Step 4.2.3.1.2.2

Cancel the common factor.

$a = \frac{- 3 \cdot 5}{- 3 \cdot 8}$

Step 4.2.3.1.2.3

Rewrite the expression.

$a = \frac{5}{8}$

Step 5

The result can be shown in multiple forms.

Exact Form:

$a = \frac{5}{8}$

Decimal Form:

$a = 0.625$