1/3 ⋅ = −5
1. Combine multiplied terms into a single fraction
1/3 = −5
1a/3 = -5
2. Multiply by 1
1a/3 = -5
a/3 = -5
3. Multiply all terms by the same value to eliminate fraction denominators
a/3 = -5
3 • a/3 = 3 (-5)
4. Cancel multiplied terms that are in the denominator
3 • a/3 = 3 (-5)
a = 3 (-5)
5. Multiply the numbers
a = 3(-5)
a = -5
