document.write( "Question 56723: Please help me solve this question:Express the fraction 19/72 in the form 1/a + 1/b where a and b are positive integers.
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Algebra.Com's Answer #39096 by stanbon(75887)\"\" \"About 
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Please help me solve this question:Express the fraction 19/72 in the form
\n" ); document.write( "1/a + 1/b where a and b are positive integers.
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "1/a + 1/b = 19/72
\n" ); document.write( "(b+a)/ab = 19/72
\n" ); document.write( "EQUATIONS:
\n" ); document.write( "1st: a+b=19
\n" ); document.write( "2nd: ab=72
\n" ); document.write( "Solve 1st for a and substitute in 2nd:
\n" ); document.write( "a=19-b
\n" ); document.write( "(19-b)b=72
\n" ); document.write( "19b-b^2=72
\n" ); document.write( "b^2-19b+72=0
\n" ); document.write( "b=[19+-sqrt(19^2-4(72)]/2
\n" ); document.write( "b=[19+-sqrt(73)]/2
\n" ); document.write( "Comment: Notice that b is not an integer.
\n" ); document.write( "I have a sneaking suspicion that your
\n" ); document.write( "problem should read 1/a + 1/b = 17/72
\n" ); document.write( "and not what you have posted.
\n" ); document.write( "If I am right a=9 and b=8.
\n" ); document.write( "Cheers,
\n" ); document.write( "Stan H.
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