16 times x=1200 or 16x=1200 divide both sides by 16 1200/16 so we simplify 1200/16 by factoring out the ones (4/8=1/2 times 4/4 since 4/4=1) 1200=3*2*2*2*2*5*5 16=2*2*2*2*1 so we notice that there are four 2's in both so those are the 'ones' so cross them off and get 3*5*5/1 or 75/1 or 75 hours
