Formula

Multiplication Property of Equality

The Multiplication Property of Equality states that multiplying both sides of an equation by the same number preserves the equality. For any numbers aa, bb, and cc:

If a=ba = b, then ac=bca \cdot c = b \cdot c

This property is used to solve equations in which the variable is divided by a number or has a fractional coefficient. Multiplying both sides by the appropriate value "undoes" the division or fraction. For example, to solve x3=5\frac{x}{3} = 5, multiply both sides by 33 to obtain x=15x = 15. Similarly, when the coefficient is a fraction such as 23x=10\frac{2}{3}x = 10, multiplying both sides by the reciprocal 32\frac{3}{2} isolates the variable: x=1032=15x = 10 \cdot \frac{3}{2} = 15. This technique leverages the inverse property of multiplication, since a number multiplied by its reciprocal equals 11.

0

1

Updated 2026-04-21

Tags

OpenStax

Elementary Algebra @ OpenStax

Ch.3 Math Models - Elementary Algebra @ OpenStax

Algebra

Math

Ch.5 Systems of Linear Equations - Elementary Algebra @ OpenStax

Ch.8 Rational Expressions and Equations - Elementary Algebra @ OpenStax

Prealgebra

Related
Learn After