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Let $a$ and $b$ be the solutions to $5x^2 - 11x + 4 = 0.$ Find 1a+1b.

 

could someone help me with this? for a and b i get   a=11+4110,b=114110   and I don't know how you put that on the bottom of a fraction... tysm in advance!!!!!! :)

 Oct 20, 2020
edited by Melody  Oct 21, 2020
 #1
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I plugged into Wolfram Alpha, and got 19/3.

 Oct 20, 2020
 #2
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Use the quadratic formula to find a, b:

 

x = 1/10 (11 - sqrt(41)) = a
x = 1/10 (11 + sqrt(41))= b

 

1 / [1/10 (11 + sqrt(41))] + 1 / [1/10 (11 - sqrt(41))] 

=11 / 4

 Oct 20, 2020
 #3
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If5x211x+4=0and a and b are the solutions thena=11+4110andb=114110 1a+1b=1011+41+101141 1a+1b=10(1141)+10(11+41)(11+41)(1141) 1a+1b=(1101041)+(110+1041)(11+41)(1141) 1a+1b=(1101041)+(110+1041)(11+41)(1141) 

I think you can finish it from there.

 

 

 

LaTex:

If \qquad 5x^2 - 11x + 4 = 0\\ \text{and a and b are the solutions then}\\

a=\frac{11+\sqrt{41}}{10}\qquad or \qquad b=\frac{11-\sqrt{41}}{10}\\~\\

\frac{1}{a}+\frac{1}{b}=\frac{10}{11+\sqrt{41}}+\frac{10}{11-\sqrt{41}}\\~\\

\frac{1}{a}+\frac{1}{b}=\frac{10(11-\sqrt{41})+10(11+\sqrt{41})}{(11+\sqrt{41})(11-\sqrt{41})}\\~\\

\frac{1}{a}+\frac{1}{b}=\frac{(110-10\sqrt{41})+(110+10\sqrt{41})}{(11+\sqrt{41})(11-\sqrt{41})}\\~\\

\frac{1}{a}+\frac{1}{b}=\frac{(110-10\sqrt{41})+(110+10\sqrt{41})}{(11+\sqrt{41})(11-\sqrt{41})}\\~\\

 Oct 21, 2020
 #4
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If the roots of the equation are a and b, then

a + b = 11/5, and ab = 4/5.

So,

1a+1b=a+bab=115.54=114.

 Oct 21, 2020
 #5
avatar+118696 
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You are right guest, I made the maths much more messy than necessary.   :)

Melody  Oct 21, 2020

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