Question

A number, one fourth of that number, and 1/5 of that number are added. The result is 58. What is the original number?

Answer 1

So we have a number, x, one fourth of the number (x/4) and a fifth of that number (x/5). We use x for all of them bc it is the same number. The first thing we will do is fine a common denominator which is 20. To get 20 we multiply a fourth by 5, a fifth by 4, simply x by 20 and 58 by 20. Once we have the denominators we can eliminate them so we cross them out and we are left with a normal equation in which we solve for x, as seen in the picture. I hope I helped. If you have any questions please x. You might want to check out the picture to understand it better.

- Laura B.

Answer 2

X + 1/4x + 1/5x = 58
20/20x + 5/20x + 4/20x = 58
29/20x = 58
x = 58 * 20/29
x = 1160/29 = 40 <== the original number