How to cancel out a negative in a denominator?The question was to make y the subject in x = 5 − 3 y (i.e. solve for y). My working was this: x = 5 − 3 y − 3 y = x − 5 y = ( x − 5 ) / ( − 3 ) But this was apparently wrong and the correct answer was ( 5 − x ) / 3. Does anyone know how to get that and how to cancel out the − 3 I had in the denominator of the equation?

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How to cancel out a negative in a denominator?The question was to make   y the subject in   x  =  5  −  3  y (i.e. solve for   y). My working was this:                    x                            =        5        −        3        y                            −        3        y                            =        x        −        5                            y                            =        (        x        −        5        )                  /                (        −        3        )            But this was apparently wrong and the correct answer was   (  5  −  x  )      /    3. Does anyone know how to get that and how to cancel out the   −  3 I had in the denominator of the equation?

nuvolor8 · Accepted Answer

y                                            =                                              (            x            −            5            )                                (            −            3            )                                                                          =                                              −            1            (            −            x            +            5            )                                −            1            (            3            )                                                                          =                                              −            1                                −            1                          ×                              (            −            x            +            5            )                    3                                                                =                                                            −              1                                      −              1                                      ×                              (            −            x            +            5            )                    3                                                                =                                              (            −            x            +            5            )                    3                                                                =                                              (            5            −            x            )                    3

deceptie3j · Accepted Answer

Multiplying both the numerator and denominator with -1 will do the trick here.

How to cancel out a negative in a denominator?The question was to make y the...

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