Rational Expressions: denom. is 2 more than 3 times numerato

[tbumpers]

The denominator of a fraction is two more than three times the numerator. If both numerator and denominator are decreased by nine, the simplified result is 1/13. Find the original fraction. (Do not simplify).

Ok I'm guessing, so help me out!!!

The denominator of a fraction is two more than three times the numerator.
1/13 is the simplified result. So does this mean 13 + 2 for denominator and 1 (3) for the numerator. Then you would add 9 to numerator and denominator? HELP!!!

 

[o_O]

Not quite. If you even started working backwards, you'll wind up a problem because:

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{13} \neq \frac{1 + 9}{13 + 9}\)

And anything else you do will probably result in a wrong answer.

How about you start from the beginning and set up an equation. Let x be your numerator. What would your denominator be?

See where you get with that and come back if you get stuck :wink: