Could someone please explain this to me and tell me what the m stands for. I have no clue what to do here solve. 0.31=0.5m?:confused:

Solve for m? Was this copied correctly out of a textbook?

.5m = .31
m = ?

0.31 = 0.5m m = ? Is how it was written

0.31 = 0.5 MULTIPLY m m=0

you have to get the number that when you multiple 0.5 by it gives 0.31

0.31 = 0.5m

Here, m is some number that you don't know the value.

In words ,you are required to find that value of m, if 0.5\,\times\, m = 0.31 (\times means 'times')

Usually, by guess work, you'll ask yourself, "what number, when multiplied by 0.5 gives 0.31?"

In math, you solve this by dividing both sides by 0.5 in that case. So, we have:

0.5\, \times \,m = 0.31

Divide both sides by 0.5:

\frac{0.5\, \times \,m}{0.5} = \frac{0.31}{0.5}

\frac{0.5}{0.5}\, \times\, m = \frac{0.31}{0.5}

1\, \times \,m = \frac{0.31}{0.5}

m = \frac{0.31}{0.5}

You can find out what is 0.31 divided by 0.5.

Hope that helped! :)

0.31 = 0.5m

Here, m is some number that you don't know the value.

In words ,you are required to find that value of m, if 0.5\times m = 0.31

Usually, by guess work, you'll ask yourself, "what number, when multiplied by 0.5 gives 0.31?"

Why did you add the x? My equation seems so much simpler.

That's not an 'x" but a 'times' , the symbol for multiplication.

That's x :x

And that times: \times

And capital X: X

That's not an 'x" but a 'times' , the symbol for multiplication.

That's x :x

And that times: \times

And capital X: X
Ah. I thought there is a less-confusing way that "times" is shown on Internet - maybe with an "*"? 4 * 5 = ?

I don't know if the OP will get that... The OP seems to have started with algebra, so an asterisk would probably be more confusing. Anyway, the OP will understand when reading these posts. Thanks you for asking, I would have never thought that 'times' can confuse some people. :)

I don't know if the OP will get that... The OP seems to have started with algebra, so an asterisk would probably be more confusing. Anyway, the OP will understnad when reading these posts. Thanks you for asking, I would have never thought that 'times' can confuse some people. :)
Or maybe space the "x" and add "x means times" --

0.5 x m = 0.31

Ok, will do.

Ok, will do.
I'm just exploring the possibilities! :D

LOL! Already did now... sigh! :rolleyes: :p

I don't know if the OP will get that... The OP seems to have started with algebra, so an asterisk would probably be more confusing. Anyway, the OP will understnad when reading these posts. Thanks you for asking, I would have never thought that 'times' can confuse some people. :)

When I learned algebra, one of the things I learned was never, ever use an x for a times. If one is learning algebra, one should also learn that 0.5m means times.

When I learned algebra, one of the things I learned was never, ever use an x for a times. If one is learning algebra, one should also learn that 0.5m means times.
Makes total sense. I remember using a floating dot (5 "dot" 6 = 30) but that was thousands of years ago. 0.5 m. = 0.5 meters, but 0.5m = 0.5 "times" m.

Makes total sense. I remember using a floating dot (5 "dot" 6 = 30) but that was thousands of years ago. 0.5 m. = 0.5 meters, but 0.5m = 0.5 "times" m.

Yeah, we did that too and I still see it in books. But not with a variable since it's understood to be multiplication. But like you have with the 5 "dot" 6, or even 5m dot 6. I don't see the dot very often anymore. And with computers the * has become popular - I'm assuming that's cause that's how spreadsheets do it, cause it was after Excel become more popular that I started seeing people using * when they were typing.

As for meters, when I saw the title that said "what does m stand for" I thought, um, slope. :) Then when I read the post itself, I thought, um, meters. The whole thing went right over my head cause I was looking for what it "stood for," as in what does it represent.

Yup, I also used the 'dot' for product. I still use another way to show multiplication. That's using brackets. First, it multiplies more than one term, and second, it separates the terms well, so that they do not mess up.

thanks for the help I got that 0.31 x 0.5 =0.62

And yes, you got it right! :)