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what does an answer of {} mean?

 

when I type solve(x,y,xy=76,a+b=18), I get {} as an answer.

 Oct 4, 2017
 #1
avatar+128407 
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You have 4 variables but only 2 equations....we can't derive any solutions from this

 

{ }   means no solutions exist

 

 

Are you sure this isn't meant to be

 

xy = 76  and    x  +  y  =  18    ???

 

If so.......   xy = 76   ⇒   y = 76/x

 

Putting this into the second equation, we have

 

x +  76/x  =  18       multiply through by x

 

x^2  + 76  =18x      rearrange as

 

x^2 - 18x + 76  = 0

 

The two solutions are     x =  9 - √5     and x = 9 + √5

 

Whichever you choose for x, y will be the other one

 

 

cool cool cool

 Oct 4, 2017

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