Explanation:
did you really mean
-5/8 = 1/2 + 3/4b
that is fully written
-5/8 = 1/2 + 3/(4b)
or did you rather mean
-5/8 = 1/2 + (3/4)b = 1/2 + 3b/4
let's look at both.
first, we bring all 3 fractions to the same denominator (bottom part) in any case.
the LCM (least common multiple) of 8, 2 and 4 is simply 8.
so, for the first case
-5/8 = (4×1)/8 + (2×3)/(8b) = 4/8 + 6/(8b)
we multiply both sides by b :
-5b/8 = 4b/8 + 6/8
then we multiply both sides by 8 :
-5b = 4b + 6
then we subtract 4b from both sides :
-9b = then we divide both sides by -9 :
b = -6/9 = -2/3
for the second case
-5/8 = 4/8 + 6b/8
we multiply both sides by 8
-5 = 4 + 6b
we subtract 4 from both sides
-9 = 6b
and divide both sides by 6
b = -9/6 = -3/2
please use the solution for the actual problem in your original problem definition.