In the equation N/60 = 8/20, what will N equal if both fractions are proportional?

Understand the Problem

The question is asking us to find the value of N in the equation N/60 = 8/20, which represents a proportion. To solve this, we will cross-multiply and simplify to isolate N.

Answer

$N = 24$

Steps to Solve

Cross-multiplication

To solve the equation $\frac{N}{60} = \frac{8}{20}$, we start by cross-multiplying. This means we multiply the numerator of one fraction by the denominator of the other fraction. So, we compute:

$$ N \times 20 = 8 \times 60 $$

Calculate the right side

Next, we calculate $8 \times 60$:

$$ 8 \times 60 = 480 $$

So now we rewrite the equation:

$$ 20N = 480 $$

Isolate N

Now we want to find $N$ by isolating it. We do this by dividing both sides of the equation by 20:

$$ N = \frac{480}{20} $$

Calculate N

Finally, perform the division:

$$ N = 24 $$

$N = 24$

More Information

This result shows that when you set up a proportion like this, cross-multiplication is a powerful tool to isolate variables efficiently. Proportions are often used to find unknown values in various practical applications, such as scaling recipes or calculating distances.

Tips

Forgetting to cross-multiply: Many people might divide instead of cross-multiplying, leading to incorrect results. Always remember to multiply diagonally for proportions.
Incorrect arithmetic operations: Double-check your calculations, especially in the multiplication or division steps. A small mistake can lead to the wrong answer.

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