m52143m18 How do you solve thisSolutionThe m is the unknown

m+5/2+1/4=3m-1/8
How do you solve this?

Solution

The m is the unknown. You need to isolate it.
Here is the question...
m+5/2+1/4=3m-1/8

First, I would move the negative 1/8 from the right side to the left.

m+5/2+1/4+1/8=3m

It is now a positive number.

Then, I would move the positive m from the left side to the right...

5/2+1/4+1/8=3m-m

The m is now a negative number.
3m-m=2m

Then, I would perform the arithmetic. The easiest way to do this is as follows...
5/2 = 2.5
1/4 = 0.25
1/8 = 0.125

This equals
2.875

The equation is now...
2.875=2m

The m is not yet isolated because of the 2 on the right side.
We must move this to the left side. It is no longer 2, but rather 1/2. It will NOT NOT NOT change from positive to negative because it is not being added or subtracted. Rather, it is initially being multiplied. It is now a dividing factor.
2.875/2=m

Because the unknown should always be on the left, we will perform the following...
-m=-2.875/2

Because both sides are negative, we can change these to positive...
m=2.875/2

m=1.4375