Algebra · real student question

Solve the equation 8.8 - 10000x = 1010000x + 6.

Question

Solve

8.810000x=1010000x+68.8 - 10000x = 1010000x + 6

Step-by-step solution

  1. Collect the x terms on the side where the coefficient is larger. Adding 10000x10000x to both sides keeps the coefficient positive and avoids a sign slip:

    8.8=1010000x+10000x+6=1020000x+68.8 = 1010000x + 10000x + 6 = 1020000x + 6

  2. Move the constant across.

    8.86=1020000x2.8=1020000x8.8 - 6 = 1020000x \quad\Longrightarrow\quad 2.8 = 1020000x

  3. Divide, keeping the exact fraction first.

    x=2.81020000=2810200000=72550000x = \frac{2.8}{1020000} = \frac{28}{10200000} = \frac{7}{2550000}

    Reducing before converting to a decimal avoids rounding a number this small too early.

  4. Express in scientific notation.

    x=725500002.745098×106x = \frac{7}{2550000} \approx 2.745098 \times 10^{-6}

    The root is tiny precisely because the two xx coefficients did not cancel — they reinforced, summing to over a million, while the constants differed by only 2.82.8.

  5. Check by substitution. Left side: 8.810000(2.745098×106)=8.80.02745098=8.772549028.8 - 10000(2.745098\times10^{-6}) = 8.8 - 0.02745098 = 8.77254902. Right side: 1010000(2.745098×106)+6=2.77254902+6=8.772549021010000(2.745098\times10^{-6}) + 6 = 2.77254902 + 6 = 8.77254902. The two agree to eight decimals.

Answer

x=725500002.745098×106x = \frac{7}{2550000} \approx 2.745098 \times 10^{-6}

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