Question

The question is: Write and solve an equation to determine the width 'w' of the flag. The length of an American flag is 1.9 times its width. I need to find the equation and the width of the flag

Answer 1

So what is given is:

length = 1.9 * w, you want to convert this to w = ...

This is done by dividing left and right by 1.9, so you get:

length/1.9 = 1.9*w/1.9, which simplifies to w = length/1.9

Another approach is to replace the multiplication with a simpler one in your head. So in stead of reading "length = 1.9 * width, what is width?", you read "6 = 2*3, what is 3?". You'll immediately realize 3 = 6/2, and that shows you how to change the real equation, ie., width = length/1.9.