Solve x:y=1:4

$$x : y = 1 : 4$$

Solve for x

$$x=\frac{y}{4}$$

$$y\neq 0$$

Steps for Solving Linear Equation

Multiply both sides of the equation by 4y, the least common multiple of y,4.

$$4x=y$$

Divide both sides by 4.

$$\frac{4x}{4}=\frac{y}{4}$$

Dividing by 4 undoes the multiplication by 4.

$$x=\frac{y}{4}$$

Solve for y

$$y=4x$$

$$x\neq 0$$

Solution Steps

Variable y cannot be equal to 0 since division by zero is not defined. Multiply both sides of the equation by 4y, the least common multiple of y,4.

$$4x=y$$

Swap sides so that all variable terms are on the left hand side.

$$y=4x$$

Variable y cannot be equal to 0.

$$y=4x\text{, }y\neq 0$$