document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=750315>Question 750315</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Please help me with the following problem:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Q/. Point (a,b) lies in the third quadrant on the graph of the equation y = 1/x. Find a and b given that the distance from poin (a,b) to the origin is <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=sqrt%28257%29%2F4 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"sqrt%28257%29%2F4\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "A/. y = 1/x ; b = 1/a ; a = 1/b<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=sqrt%28a%5E2+%2B+b%5E2%29+=+sqrt%28257%29%2F4 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"sqrt%28a%5E2+%2B+b%5E2%29+=+sqrt%28257%29%2F4\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=sqrt%28a%5E2+%2B+%281%2Fa%29%5E2%29+=+sqrt%28257%29%2F4 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"sqrt%28a%5E2+%2B+%281%2Fa%29%5E2%29+=+sqrt%28257%29%2F4\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "I'm stuck at solving for a....I tried to rearrange it as <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=sqrt%28%28a%5E4+%2B+1%29%2Fa%5E2%29%29+=+sqrt%28257%29%2F4 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"sqrt%28%28a%5E4+%2B+1%29%2Fa%5E2%29%29+=+sqrt%28257%29%2F4\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > but I don't know if this brings me any closer to the answer..\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "The textbook answer is a = -1/4, -4. Thanks.. </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #456529 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=rothauserc><B>rothauserc(4718)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=rothauserc><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=rothauserc><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=456529\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> the problem states\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Q/. Point (a,b) lies in the third quadrant on the graph of the equation y = 1/x. Find a and b given that the distance from point (a,b) to the origin is <BR>\n" );
document.write( "(sqrt(257)/4)\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "note that a point in the third quadrant has a negative x and negative y.  Also<BR>\n" );
document.write( "y = 1/x  has components in the first and third quadrants\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "The point (a,b) lies on the line y = 1/x in the third quadrant, we know\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "X^2 + (1/x)^2 = 257 / 16\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "note that 16 is 4^2\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "so if x = -4 then y = - 1/4\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "and 16 + (1/16) = (16^2 + 1) / 16 = 257 / 16\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( " </SPAN>\n" );
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