Solve for x 3/(8x)+1/4=5/(2x)

Finding the LCD of a list of values is the same as finding the LCM of the denominators of those values.

Since ${\displaystyle 8x,2x,4}$ contain both numbers and variables, there are two steps to find the LCM. Find LCM for the numeric part ${\displaystyle 8,2,4}$ then find LCM for the variable part ${\displaystyle x^1,x^1}$.

The LCM is the smallest positive number that all of the numbers divide into evenly.

1. List the prime factors of each number.

2. Multiply each factor the greatest number of times it occurs in either number.

The prime factors for ${\displaystyle 8}$ are ${\displaystyle 2\cdot 2\cdot 2}$.

Since ${\displaystyle 2}$ has no factors besides ${\displaystyle 1}$ and ${\displaystyle 2}$.

${\displaystyle 2}$ is a prime number

${\displaystyle 4}$ has factors of ${\displaystyle 2}$ and ${\displaystyle 2}$.

The LCM of ${\displaystyle 8,2,4}$ is the result of multiplying all prime factors the greatest number of times they occur in either number.

The LCM of ${\displaystyle 8,2,4}$ is ${\displaystyle 2\cdot 2\cdot 2=8}$.

The factor for ${\displaystyle x^1}$ is ${\displaystyle x}$ itself.

${\displaystyle x}$ occurs ${\displaystyle 1}$ time.

The LCM of ${\displaystyle x^1,x^1}$ is the result of multiplying all prime factors the greatest number of times they occur in either term.

The LCM for ${\displaystyle 8x,2x,4}$ is the numeric part ${\displaystyle 8}$ multiplied by the variable part.

Multiply each term in ${\displaystyle \frac{3}{8x}=\frac{5}{2x}-\frac{1}{4}}$ by ${\displaystyle 8x}$.

Simplify the left side.

Simplify the right side.

Rewrite the equation as ${\displaystyle 20-2x=3}$.

Move all terms not containing ${\displaystyle x}$ to the right side of the equation.

Divide each term in ${\displaystyle -2x=-17}$ by ${\displaystyle -2}$ and simplify.