algebra

 

Real numbers a and b satisfy    

a + ab = 250    

a - ab = -240    

Enter all possible values of a, separated by commas.   

 

 

i doubt that you'll find an easier problem   

than this in your entire algebra textbook. :-)    

 

                                                                                a + ab  =    250    

                                                                                a – ab  =  –240   

Just add the two together   

                                                                              2a           =     10    

I just kinda kept the a's lined up   

with each other.  After you divide  

both sides by 2, the final answer is                                   a  =  5  

 

The problem doesn't ask for the      

value of b, but it is, of course,                                           b  =  49    

_.