+0  
 
0
102
1
avatar

Real numbers a and b satisfy

a + ab = 250

a - ab = -240

Enter all possible values of a, separated by commas.

 May 11, 2023
 #1
avatar
0

 

Real numbers a and b satisfy

a + ab = 250

a - ab = -240

Enter all possible values of a, separated by commas.

 

 

If you add the two equations together                a + ab  =   250  

                                                                           a – ab  = –240  

                                                                          ————————  

you get                                                              2a         =  10  

 

from which                                                                  a  =  5  

 

The problem doesn't ask for b,  

but ... find b by substituting  

a back into a + ab = 250                                    5 + 5b  =  250  

                                                                                5b  =  245  

                                                                                  b  =  49  

 

check b by substituting  

a back into a – ab = –240                                  5 – 5b  =  –240  

                                                                              –5b  =  –245  

                                                                                  b  =  49  

.

 May 12, 2023

4 Online Users

avatar