| ( | 2 | − | x | ) | × | 40 | = | ( | 4 | − | x | ) | × | 16 |
| Left side of the equation = | 2 | × | 40 | − | x | × | 40 |
| = | 80 | − | x | × | 40 |
| 80 | − | 40 | x | = | ( | 4 | − | x | ) | × | 16 |
| Right side of the equation = | 4 | × | 16 | − | x | × | 16 |
| = | 64 | − | x | × | 16 |
| 80 | − | 40 | x | = | 64 | − | 16 | x |
| - | 40 | x | + | 16 | x | = | 64 | − | 80 |
| - | 24 | x | = | 64 | − | 80 |
| - | 24 | x | = | - | 16 |
| 16 | = | 24 | x |
| 24 | x | = | 16 |
| x | = | 16 | ÷ | 24 |
| = | 16 | × | 1 24 |
| = | 2 | × | 1 3 |
| x | = | 2 3 |
| x | = | 0.666667 |