document.write( "Question 480147: the denominator of a fraction is an integer that is 3 more than the square of the numerator. if the fraction is reduced to lowest terms it equals 1/4. find the numerator. \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #328912 by Theo(13342)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
denominator of fraction is equal to 3 more than the square of the numerator.
\n" ); document.write( "n = the numerator
\n" ); document.write( "d = the denominator
\n" ); document.write( "our equation would be:
\n" ); document.write( "d = n^2 + 3
\n" ); document.write( "if the fraction is reduced to lowest terms, then it equals 1/4.
\n" ); document.write( "we have:
\n" ); document.write( "n/d = 1/4
\n" ); document.write( "since d = n^2 + 3, then we have:
\n" ); document.write( "n/(n^2 + 3) = 1/4
\n" ); document.write( "cross multiply to get:
\n" ); document.write( "4n = n^2 + 3
\n" ); document.write( "subtract 4n from both sides of the equation to get:
\n" ); document.write( "0 = n^2 - 4n + 3 which is the same as:
\n" ); document.write( "n^2 - 4n + 3 = 0
\n" ); document.write( "factor to get:
\n" ); document.write( "(n-3)*(n-1) = 0
\n" ); document.write( "this makes:
\n" ); document.write( "n = 3 or n = 1
\n" ); document.write( "if n = 1, then n/d = n/(n^2 + 3) which becomes 1/4.
\n" ); document.write( "if n = 3, then n/d = n/(n^2 + 3) which becomes 3/12.
\n" ); document.write( "since n = 1 results in the reduced fraction, it looks like the answer would be:
\n" ); document.write( "n = 3
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" );