Help this poor lurker with algebra

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

Yo.

I’ve been fighting with this stupid thing for hours now.

2x + 1 / 8 - 1/4 = x - 3 / 2 + 1

I keep getting x = -3/2 for an answer, and that doesn’t work when I check it. My fancy graphing calculator says that x = -3/8, and that works, but I cannot for the life of me figure out how to end up at that.

I would be eternally grateful if someone could take the time to sort this out. :smiley:

2

Add the like terms on both sides, the numbers. ==>

2x + 1/8 - 2/8 = x - 3/2 + 2/2
2x + (-1/8) = x - 1/2
2x - 1/8 = x - 1/2

move the terms to the other side

2x + (-x) - 1/8 + (1/8) = x + (-x) - 1/2 + (1/8)

add the like terms again

x + 0 = 0 - 3/8
x = -3/8

3

I get the same answer with essentially the same algebra. FWIW.