Levans writes a positive fraction in which the numerator and denominator are integers, and the numerator is 1 greater than the denominator. He then writes several more fractions. To make each new fraction, he increases both the numerator and the denominator of the previous fraction by 1. He then multiplies all his fractions together. He has 3 fractions, and their product equals 5. What is the value of the first fraction he wrote?
x / [x - 1] * [x + 1] / x * [x + 2] / [x + 1] ==5, solve for x
(x + 2)/(x - 1) = 5
Multiply both sides by x - 1:
x + 2 = 5 (x - 1)
in standard form.
Expand out terms of the right hand side:
x + 2 = 5 x - 5
Subtract 5 x + 2 from both sides:
-4 x = -7
Divide both sides by -4:
x = 7/4
(7/4) / (3/4) = This is the value of the first fraction.
