Simplify x/4 + 3x/2

Step by step

The question

Question: simplify x/4 + 3x/2.

Simplify means: write it shorter, with the same value.

1 Group like terms

Terms are the parts between the + and − signs.

Like terms are the same kind: same letters, same powers.

All the x terms go together.

Each colour is one kind.

To add fractions, the bottoms must be the same.

We count up in 4s and in 2s.

4 is the first number in both lists.

3x/2 is 6x/4: top and bottom times 2.

Now the bottoms are the same, so we add the tops.

x/4 + 3x/2 is 7x/4.

So the expression is 7x/4.

2 Check

Let's check.

We pick a number for each letter: x = 2.

We put it into the start.

Now into our answer.

Both give 7/2.

Same value, so 7x/4 is right!

Let's look back.

First: group like terms.

Last: check.