4 ms·

x = 11/3

• mark-t 17y ago
  No, x = -1/4 is correct. Perhaps you should look up the order of operations.
  • ars 17y ago
    He's not all wrong. In algebraic notation division is written as a fraction, and has a lower precedence. So it's a bit ambiguous.
  • redcap 17y ago
    I'm getting x = 11/3 as well. My workings: (x-3)/(x-1) = (x-4)/(x-5) (x-3)(x-5) = (x-4)(x-1) x^2 -8x + 15 = x^2 -5x +4 -8x + 11 = -5x 11 = 3x x = 11/3 FWIW, wolfram alpha agrees with me.
    • deleted 17y ago
      [deleted]
    • bobbyi 17y ago
      You changed the equation. You started with (x-3)/(x-1) = (x-4)/(x-5) which is not the same as x - 3/x - 1 = x - 4/x - 5 , the equation in the submission.
      • redcap 17y ago
        Haha, thanks - I guess the problem is in my parsing :)