If someone turned 100 today, this is the kind of algebra problem they might’ve seen as a freshman. And honestly? It still holds up. We’re given a proportion: x/4 = y/3 and asked to evaluate (3x − 2y) / (3x 2y). The key move is noticing that proportions give you equal cross products — meaning 3x = 4y. Once you see that, the whole expression collapses beautifully. Sub in 4y for 3x and you’re just simplifying: (4y − 2y) / (4y 2y) = 2y / 6y = 1/3. A hundred years later, the algebra still works. And