Step by step
The question
Question: solve 3/x + 3/x = 2.
First: a bottom can never be 0.
x at the bottom can't be 0.
So x ≠ 0.
1 Remove the fractions
The bottom is x.
Times x will remove it.
We multiply every part by x.
We do it on both sides, so they stay equal.
x divided by x is 1.
x divided by x is 1.
x times 2 is 2x.
Write what is left.
No more fractions!
2 Group like terms
Terms are the parts between the + and − signs.
Like terms are the same kind: same letters, same powers.
Plain numbers go together.
3 + 3 = 6.
Now we have 6 = 2x.
Let's swap the two sides, so x is on the left.
3 Remove the 2
2x means 2 times x.
We want just x.
To remove times 2, we divide by 2.
We do it on both sides, so they stay equal.
2 divided by 2 is 1.
So just x is left.
6 divided by 2 is 3.
So x = 3!
4 Check
Let's check: put 3 in place of x.
First the left side.
Now the right side.
Both sides are 2.
So x = 3 is right!
Let's look back.
First: remove the fractions.
Then: group like terms.
Then: remove the 2.
Last: check.