Answer: x = 9
Remember: cross-multiply (product of the means equals the product of the extremes) to solve this proportion. It forms a 'cross'-- hence its name.
4 8 4 and 2 are the extremes
------ = ------ 8 and x - 8 are the means
x - 8 2
(4)(2) = 8(x - 8) Simplify
8 = 8(x - 8) Distributive Property
8 = 8x - 64 Add 64 to both sides
72 = 8x Divide by 8 for both sides
9 = x Answer!
x = 9 Answer!
