Given: [tex]3:21 = x:16[/tex]
Find: The value of the unknown variable, x
Solution: The first step that we should take is to convert the ratios into a fraction so we can then easily cross multiply, isolate the unknown variable, and simplify the expression.
Convert to fractions
- [tex]3:21=x:16[/tex]
- [tex]\frac{3}{21}=\frac{x}{16}[/tex]
Cross multiply
- [tex]3(16) = 21(x)[/tex]
- [tex]48 = 21x[/tex]
Divide both sides by 21
- [tex]\frac{48}{21} = \frac{21x}{21}[/tex]
- [tex]\frac{48}{21} = x[/tex]
Simplify the expression
- [tex]\frac{48/3}{21/3} = x[/tex]
- [tex]\frac{16}{7} = x[/tex]
Therefore, the final answer would be that the unknown would be equal to 16/7 in the ratio expression that was provided in the problem statement.