The sum of the numerator and denominator of a fraction is 12. If the denominator is increased by 3, the fraction becomes 1/2. Find the fraction.
Let the numerator and denominator of the fraction be $x$ and $y$ respectively. Then the fraction is $\frac{x}{y}$
The sum of the numerator and denominator of the fraction is 12. Thus, we have
$x+y=12$
$\Rightarrow x+y-12=0$
If the denominator is increased by 3, the fraction becomes $\frac{1}{2}$. Thus, we have
$\frac{x}{y+3}=\frac{1}{2}$
$\Rightarrow 2 x=y+3$
$\Rightarrow 2 x-y-3=0$
So, we have two equations
$x+y-12=0$
$2 x-y-3=0$
Here x and y are unknowns. We have to solve the above equations for x and y.
By using cross-multiplication, we have
$\frac{x}{\mid \times(-3)-(-1) \times(-12)}=\frac{-y}{\mid \times(-3)-2 \times(-12)}=\frac{1}{\mid \times(-1)-2 \times 1}$
$\Rightarrow \frac{x}{-3-12}=\frac{-y}{-3+24}=\frac{1}{-1-2}$
$\Rightarrow \frac{x}{-15}=\frac{-y}{21}=\frac{1}{-3}$
$\Rightarrow \frac{x}{15}=\frac{y}{21}=\frac{1}{3}$
$\Rightarrow x=\frac{15}{3}, y=\frac{21}{3}$
$\Rightarrow x=5, y=7$
Hence, the fraction is $\frac{5}{7}$.