What divided by what equals 3?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking for two numbers where the division of the first number by the second results in 3. To find a solution, we would look for pairs of numbers that fulfill this condition.
Answer
The pairs of numbers include $(3, 1)$, $(6, 2)$, and $(-3, -1)$.
Answer for screen readers
The pairs of numbers that satisfy the equation $\frac{x}{y} = 3$ include $(3, 1)$, $(6, 2)$, and $(-3, -1)$.
Steps to Solve
- Set up the equation
We need to express the relationship between the two numbers mathematically. If we let the first number be $x$ and the second number be $y$, we can state that:
$$ \frac{x}{y} = 3 $$
- Rewrite the equation
To make it easier to work with, we can multiply both sides of the equation by $y$:
$$ x = 3y $$
This shows that the first number is three times the second number.
- Choose a value for one variable
To find specific pairs of numbers, we can choose a value for $y$. For instance, if we let $y = 1$:
$$ x = 3(1) = 3 $$
So, one pair of numbers is $(3, 1)$.
- Explore more pairs
We can choose different values for $y$ to find more pairs. If $y = 2$:
$$ x = 3(2) = 6 $$
This gives another pair: $(6, 2)$.
Additionally, if $y = -1$:
$$ x = 3(-1) = -3 $$
We find another pair: $(-3, -1)$.
The pairs of numbers that satisfy the equation $\frac{x}{y} = 3$ include $(3, 1)$, $(6, 2)$, and $(-3, -1)$.
More Information
There are infinitely many pairs of numbers that satisfy this condition. The first number is always three times the second number. You can find other values by continuing to pick different values for $y$.
Tips
- Assuming there is only one solution. There are infinitely many pairs of numbers that satisfy the condition.
- Forgetting to consider negative numbers. Negative pairs also work (e.g., $(-3, -1)$).
