Question

Solve the equation using mental math.$\frac{48}{u}=-3$

Short answer

The solution of the equation is u = – 16

Step-by-step solution

Apply the concept of equation: 

An equation is a mathematical statement that two expressions are equal. The solution of an equation is the value that when substituted for the variable makes the equation a true statement.

Example: 3x + 5 = 14 is an equation, in which 3x+5 and 14 are two expressions separated by an ‘’equal’’ sign.

What are the steps to solve an equation? 

Step 1: Simplify each side of the equation by removing parenthesis and combining the like terms.

Step 2: Use addition or subtraction to isolate the variable term on one side (preferably in the left side).

Step 3: Use Multiplication or Division to solve for the variable.

Solve the equation using mental math

$\frac{48}{u}=-3$

Now solving the equation$\frac{48}{u}=-3$with proper steps

$\begin{array}{l}\frac{48}{u}=-3\\ u·\frac{48}{u}=u·-3\text{\hspace{0.17em}\hspace{0.17em}\hspace{0.17em}\hspace{0.17em}Multiply\hspace{0.17em}\hspace{0.17em}both\hspace{0.17em}\hspace{0.17em}sides\hspace{0.17em}\hspace{0.17em}by\hspace{0.17em}\hspace{0.17em}}u\\ 48=-3u\\ \frac{48}{-3}=\frac{-3u}{-3}\text{\hspace{0.17em}\hspace{0.17em}\hspace{0.17em}\hspace{0.17em}\hspace{0.17em}\hspace{0.17em}\hspace{0.17em}\hspace{0.17em}\hspace{0.17em}\hspace{0.17em}\hspace{0.17em}\hspace{0.17em}\hspace{0.17em}\hspace{0.17em}Divide\hspace{0.17em}\hspace{0.17em}both\hspace{0.17em}\hspace{0.17em}sides\hspace{0.17em}\hspace{0.17em}by\hspace{0.17em}\hspace{0.17em}}-3\\ u=-16\end{array}$

Solution of the equation is$u=-16$