Name: Rational equations: solution walkthrough
Uploaded: 2026-11-13
Duration: 2 min 3 s
Description: What value of x satisfies the equation 3/x - 2 = 5/x + 2? Try it, then watch the animated solution.

Two fractions are equal:

3

parts out of

x - 2

is the same share as

5

parts out of

x + 2

.

Clear the fractions: multiply both sides by

(x - 2)(x + 2)

. That gives

3(x + 2) = 5(x - 2)

.

Distribute on each side:

3x + 6 = 5x - 10

.

Subtract

3x

and add

10

on both sides:

16 = 2x

. Divide by

2

:

x = 8

.

Check:

\tfrac{3}{8 - 2} = \tfrac{3}{6}

and

\tfrac{5}{8 + 2} = \tfrac{5}{10}

. Both are

\tfrac{1}{2}

, so

x = 8

works.

Traps: stopping at

16 = 2x

, not distributing (which gives

2

), or cross-multiplying the wrong pairs.

Try it first