If you are trying to solve (1/2)x + (1/3)x = 10
You can collect terms and divide by the coefficient of x to get x(1/2 + 1/3) = x(5/6) = 10 x = (6/5)*10 x = 12 If you are trying to solve 1/(2x) + 1/(3x) = 10
You can multiply by 6x and divide by the coefficient of x to get 3 + 2 = 60x 5/60 = x x = 1/12In the latter case, parentheses are needed to identify the denominator of each expression.