SOLUTION: Suppose that the sum of two whole numbers is 9 and the sum of their reciprocals is 1/2. Find the numbers. I know the answer is 3 and 6. However, I dont know how to write the proble

Question 413610: Suppose that the sum of two whole numbers is 9 and the sum of their reciprocals is 1/2. Find the numbers. I know the answer is 3 and 6. However, I dont know how to write the problem out.
Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
"the sum of two whole numbers is 9" means that . Solve for y to get

" the sum of their reciprocals is 1/2" tells us that . Multiply EVERY term by the LCD 2xy to get

Now plug in to get

At this point, you have an equation with 1 unknown. Simply expand everything out, simplify, and then use the quadratic formula to find x. I'll let you take it from here.

If you need more help, email me at jim_thompson5910@hotmail.com

Also, please consider visiting my website: http://www.freewebs.com/jimthompson5910/home.html and making a donation. Thank you

Jim
RELATED QUESTIONS
the sum of 2 whole numbers is 9 and the sum of their reciprocals is 1/2. find the... (answered by lwsshak3)

suppose that the sum of two whole numbers is 11 and the sum of their reciprocals is... (answered by richard1234)

Suppose that the sum of two whole numbers is 15, and the sum of their reciprocals is... (answered by MathLover1)

Suppose that the sum of two whole numbers is 6, and the sum of their reciprocals is 3/4.... (answered by htmentor)

Suppose that the sum of two whole numbers is 20, and the sum of their reciprocals is... (answered by stanbon)

Suppose that the sum of two whole numbers is 10, and the sum of their reciprocals is 5/8. (answered by unlockmath)

Two numbers have a sum of 5, and the sum of their reciprocals is 1. Find the exact... (answered by josgarithmetic)

The product of two numbers is 5 and the sum of their reciprocals is 9/10. Find the... (answered by checkley75)

The sum of two numbers is 20. The sum of their reciprocals is 4/15. Find the two numbers (answered by stanbon,solver91311)