Question

Jada and Priya are trying to solve the equation 2/3 + x = 4 Jada says I think we should multiply each side by 3/2 because that is the reciprocal of 2/3 Priya since I think we should add -2/3 to each side because that is the opposite of 2/3

Answer 1

The equation they are trying to solve is

$\frac{2}{3}+x=4$

In order to solve this equation, they need to add -2/3 on each side (the opposite of 2/3).

$\begin{gathered} \frac{2}{3}-\frac{2}{3}+x=4-\frac{2}{3} \\ x=4-\frac{2}{3} \end{gathered}$

Hence, Priya is correct because they need to use the opposite of 2/3, not the reciprocal.

An equation that can be solved using Jada's strategy is

$\frac{2}{3}x=4$

This equation would need to use a reciprocal, as Jada said.