Set up a proportion
EA / EB = ED/ EC
16 / (5x + 2 + 16) = 12 / (12 + 24)
16/(5x + 18) = 12 / 36 Cross multiply
16 * 36 = (4x + 18)*12 Remove the brackets
576 = 48x + 216 Subtract 216 from both sides.
360 = 48x Divide by 48
360/48 = x
7.5 = x
{-1, 5, 11, 17, 23} ................
So, 4.01 is less than 4.1. Think of it as 4.10 and 4.01, 1 is less than 10. One you could have put is 4.101, because it is more than 4.1 and less than 4.11