Solve 2/7a+7/24=-3/8

$$\frac { 2 } { 7 } a + \frac { 7 } { 24 } = - \frac { 3 } { 8 }$$

Solve for a

$$a = -\frac{7}{3} = -2\frac{1}{3} \approx -2.333333333$$

Steps for Solving Linear Equation

Subtract \frac{7}{24} from both sides.

$$\frac{2}{7}a=-\frac{3}{8}-\frac{7}{24}$$

Least common multiple of 8 and 24 is 24. Convert -\frac{3}{8} and \frac{7}{24} to fractions with denominator 24.

$$\frac{2}{7}a=-\frac{9}{24}-\frac{7}{24}$$

Since -\frac{9}{24} and \frac{7}{24} have the same denominator, subtract them by subtracting their numerators.

$$\frac{2}{7}a=\frac{-9-7}{24}$$

Subtract 7 from -9 to get -16.

$$\frac{2}{7}a=\frac{-16}{24}$$

Reduce the fraction \frac{-16}{24} to lowest terms by extracting and canceling out 8.

$$\frac{2}{7}a=-\frac{2}{3}$$

Multiply both sides by \frac{7}{2}, the reciprocal of \frac{2}{7}.

$$a=-\frac{2}{3}\times \frac{7}{2}$$

Multiply -\frac{2}{3} times \frac{7}{2} by multiplying numerator times numerator and denominator times denominator.

$$a=\frac{-2\times 7}{3\times 2}$$

Do the multiplications in the fraction \frac{-2\times 7}{3\times 2}.

$$a=\frac{-14}{6}$$

Reduce the fraction \frac{-14}{6} to lowest terms by extracting and canceling out 2.

$$a=-\frac{7}{3}$$