Help with a simple algebra problem

[MartinJH]

Hi

I'm trying to solve;
t / 2t-s = 3s
for t
the answer I get is; t = -3s^2/1-6s. However, the answer given is; 3s^2/6s-1

The steps I use are;
t = 3s(2t - s)
t = 6st - 3s^2
t - 6st = -3s^2
t(1 - 6s) = -3s^2
t = 3s^2 / 1 - 6s

If someone could point out where I'm going wrong that would be great, thank you.

 

[fresh_42]

Hi

I'm trying to solve;
t / 2t-s = 3s
for t
the answer I get is; t = -3s^2/1-6s. However, the answer given is; 3s^2/6s-1

The steps I use are;
t = 3s(2t - s)
t = 6st - 3s^2
t - 6st = -3s^2
t(1 - 6s) = -3s^2

Here. You switched the sign on the right but not on the left.

t = 3s^2 / 1 - 6s

If someone could point out where I'm going wrong that would be great, thank you.

 

[Mark44]

I'm trying to solve;
t / 2t-s = 3s
for t
the answer I get is; t = -3s^2/1-6s. However, the answer given is; 3s^2/6s-1

Use parentheses! When you write mathematical expressions on a single line, and have fractions with numerators or denominators that have multiple terms, you absolutely need to use parentheses.

Textbooks can have things like $\frac t {2t - s}$, where it's clear which terms are in the denominator, but when you write t/2t - s, it really means $\frac t 2 t - s$, which is probably not what you meant.
Also, what you wrote as 3s^2/1 - 6s would reasonably be interpreted to mean ##3\frac {s^2} 1 - 6s.

I used LaTeX for format the two expressions. If you don't use LaTeX (we have a very good tutorial here -- https://www.physicsforums.com/help/latexhelp/), the equation you started with should be written as t/(2t - s) = 3s, and the solution you got should be written as t = 3s^2/(1 - 6s).

 

[PeroK]

Hi

I'm trying to solve;
t / 2t-s = 3s
for t
the answer I get is; t = -3s^2/1-6s. However, the answer given is; 3s^2/6s-1

If someone could point out where I'm going wrong that would be great, thank you.

Those are the same answer.