If ax-3a=-12 find the integer value of a for which x is a positive int...
Solution:
Given, ax - 3a = -12
We need to find the integer value of a for which x is a positive integer.
Let's solve the given equation step by step:
Step 1: Factorising
Taking common factor a from the left-hand side of the equation, we get:
a(x - 3) = -12
Step 2: Solving for x
Dividing both sides of the equation by a, we get:
x - 3 = -12/a
Adding 3 to both sides of the equation, we get:
x = -12/a + 3
Step 3: Finding the value of a for which x is a positive integer
For x to be a positive integer, the value of -12/a + 3 must be a positive integer.
So, we can write:
-12/a + 3 = n, where n is a positive integer
Solving for a, we get:
-12/a = n - 3
a = -12/(n - 3)
To find the integer value of a, we need to find the values of n for which a is an integer.
To do this, we can check the factors of -12 and see which ones give integer values of a.
The factors of -12 are: -12, -6, -4, -3, -2, -1, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12.
For n = 1, a = -12/(1 - 3) = 6, which is an integer.
For n = 2, a = -12/(2 - 3) = -12, which is an integer.
For n = 3, a is undefined as we cannot divide by 0.
For n = 4, a = -12/(4 - 3) = -12, which is an integer.
For n = 5, a = -12/(5 - 3) = 6, which is an integer.
For n = 6, a is undefined as we cannot divide by 0.
For n = 7, a = -12/(7 - 3) = 3, which is an integer.
For n = 8, a = -12/(8 - 3) = -2.4, which is not an integer.
For n = 9, a = -12/(9 - 3) = -1.5, which is not an integer.
For n = 10, a = -12/(10 - 3) = -1.714, which is not an integer.
For n = 11, a = -12/(11 - 3) = -1.2, which is not an integer.
For n = 12, a = -12/(12 - 3) = -1.09, which is not an integer.
Therefore, the integer values of a for which x is a positive integer are 6, -12, and 6.