SOLUTION: I need to use the following 5-step method to solve this problem. 1. State what you need to solve for. 2. Identify the unknowns. 3. Write the equation derived from the word probl

Question 413910: I need to use the following 5-step method to solve this problem.
1. State what you need to solve for.
2. Identify the unknowns.
3. Write the equation derived from the word problem.
4. Solve for the given variable.
5. Check.
Here is the question.
>>>>>>The sum of a number and its reciprocal is (10/3). What is the number?
This is what I think the answer should be. Am I thinking this out correctly?
1. I need to solve for a number.
2. The unknown is x.
3. The formula is x + (1/x) = (10/3)
4. Solve. I thought to do
3(x + (1/x)) = (10/3)3
3x+ 3/x = 10
( I think I am stuck. I don't think I have the right formula. What do I do?
Thanks alot for your help.
:)
Answer by bayners123(12) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Yeah you are well on your way, just multiply through by x and solve the quadratic.
you should get
Rearranging gives
so factorise to (3x-1)(x-3)=0, and from this we can see x is 3 or 1/3, both of which fit the description.
As for the wordy stuff, I am not too familiar with that but it seemed to make sense.
RELATED QUESTIONS
I need to use the five-step method to solve this problem. The five steps are: 1. State... (answered by ewatrrr)

SOLVE THE SYSTEM USING THE GAUSS-JORDAN METHOD PROBLEM: x-3y= 3 2x-5y= 4 (answered by stanbon)

Your are going to solve a 3-by-3 system of equations. You will be guided through it... (answered by josgarithmetic,MathTherapy)

Can someone help me on this problem? I need to identify the rate, base, and amount... (answered by stanbon)

1. log2(x-3)=3-log2(x-1) (the base is log 2) 2. 6log7(x^2-1)-5log7(x-1) (the base is... (answered by MathLover1)

I need help with this problem please. A has coordinates (x1,x2) B (x2,y2) M (x1+x2/2... (answered by mananth)

2x + 3x = 25 7 2 7 LCD is 14 im trying to solve this using the 5 step... (answered by algebrapro18)

i need to see the work step by step for this problem (substitution method): x=6+y... (answered by stanbon)

Can someone help me on this problem? I need to solve the following word problem. I... (answered by stanbon)