Can you solve this equation?

In this math video I (Susanne) explain how to solve this simple linear equation. We take a look at common mistakes, like dividing by zero to find the solution and solve for x.

00:00 Intro – Equation
0:18 Solution
3:53 See you soon!

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[MathQueenSusanne]

Hey math friends! If you’re enjoying this video, could you double-check that you’ve liked it and subscribed to the channel? It’s a simple equation: your support + my passion = more great content! Thanks for helping me keep this going – you’re the best!

[adamlea]

This is demonstrating the classic pitfall of dividing by an unknown value where that value could be zero. Mathematical fallacies where starting with an equation and going through a list of apparently logical steps results in something like 2=1 often involves dividing by zero at one step.

[stefanorossetti]

x=5x then draw the the two lines (y=x) and (y=5x). They meet only in point (0, 0). So x=0

[Z-eng]

As a communications and electronics engineer grad and math enthusiast for years, I can wholeheartedly say that this channel was sth I absolutely NEEDED to see.
It helped me remember after such a long time what the applying the basics actually looked like, using the most basic of steps instead of just the advanced type I'm already used to reminded me of the insights doing more basic steps gets me.
I thank you from the bottom of my heart for once again reminding me of the beauty of even the simplest and most basic parts of maths.

[ehrenwerterpelikan]

Susanne, your solution is mathematically convincing. However, the fact that only zero fits is actually evident at first glance because one-fifth of x can never be x, except when x is zero.

[raycapetillo]

At first i thought, you are looking for the answer 0.. But the value of your video is the HOW we get there. Well done.

[petematthews]

Love the contrasting solution attempts. It's always good to remind oneself that when you divide by the variable x, you need to exclude the x=0 solution. But that doesn't mean you don't check to see if x=0 is a solution, which in this case would immediately show that it's a solution. That said, as a retired math teacher, I really appreciate that you point out that both x and x/5 are linear functions, so to collect the like terms on one side. Voilá! Thanks!

[isKatKat]

This was actually a nice little exercise when you haven’t been doing “school maths” for years. Nice brush-up!

[louismeaux]

Thank you for sharing your gentle and inspiring approach to logical problem solving. I appreciate the wake up for my neglected and withering skills.

[Grandliseur]

Simple, but enjoyable. I liked the point about dividing by zero warning.

[shadowstar]

I've just come across your channel in the last few days, I'm 56 now and it's nice to pause your video at the start and then try and work your sums out. Also to look at how you solve them.

Thanks for demonstrating what happens if you try and cancel out x when you don't know what it is.

For my part I'd figured if you solve for x then the last thing you want to do is cancel x out of the equation. and once you remember that 0 divided by anything = 0 the equation becomes very easy to solve.

[David-hmic]

It took about 1 second to solve. Since I'm old enough to have taken a slide rule class in high school this was extremely easy. Once in a while the teacher would sneak a zero into a complex equation that had only multiplication and division, just to teach us to look at the entire equation before attempting to solve. Simple calculators cost $200-$400 USD at the time.

[azcharlie]

Wish I'd had a math teacher like her. I'd have paid a lot more attention.

[alitna]

I actually paused the video trying to figure out the right answer, but couldn’t find it. I think I was so stuck in the thought of not understanding an equation could be “impossible”. Thanks Math queen for learning me this!:)

[Quintessential-li]

I just got an expression 5x=x and was like "0 is the only number that can be multiplied by a constant and remain itself, therefore the answer is 0" but then I understood that its not a "solution" technically and I "guessed" the answer. Was actually curious how to *solve* solve it. Been years since I subtracted from equations lol

[caravanlifenz]

Well done on creating a popular maths channel ❤ It always restores my faith in humanity when I see maths and science channels get thousands of views. Good on you for educating the world.

[finlandtaipan]

Wonderful. I saw x=0 immediately but I was wondering if there could be another solution in complex numbers. You showed convincingly that 0 is the only solution.

[hughmccurdy]

This would be a good way for middle school algebra teachers to teach why dividing by zero fails.

[montehyler]

I am enjoying the math brush-ups but what I really like is your speaking voice! Your voice just might be the most pleasant one ever I've heard!

[jimslancio]

You can prove absurdities by dividing by zero.