SOLUTION: 1/x+1/x+1=9/20

Algebra ->  Inverses -> SOLUTION: 1/x+1/x+1=9/20       Log On


   



Question 1094365: 1/x+1/x+1=9/20

Found 2 solutions by josgarithmetic, ikleyn:
Answer by josgarithmetic(39616) About Me  (Show Source):
Answer by ikleyn(52776) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
.
First part of my answer.

    If it is  

    1%2Fx+%2B+1%2F%28x%2B1%29 = 9%2F20

    then, after multiplying both sides by x*(x+1), you have

    20*(x+1) + 20*x = 9x*(x+1)  ====>  20x + 20 + 20x = 9x^2 + 9x  ====>

    9x^2 - 31x - 20 = 0  ====>  after factoring the left side ====>  

    (9x+5)*(x-4) = 0  ====>  the solutions are   x = -5%2F9  and  x = 4.


Second part of my answer


Your formula is ambiguous and unreadable without using parentheses.

     Is it   (1/x) + (1/x) + 1 = (9/20)    or   (1/x) + (1/(x+1)) = 9/20  ??

Use parentheses to make your formulas readable and unambiguous.


Use parentheses when you post your formulas to this forum.


It is the  REQUIREMENT  of this site.


There is  NO OTHER WAY  to make them readable and unambiguous.


By  violating  this  RULE,  you work  against yourself  and  against your better interests.


With it,  welcome to the forum !!


---------------
I repeat this mantra to each and every new visitor coming to this forum,
until he or she will take it seriously.
---------------

    Once, when I sent this message to some customer/"student"/visitor, he responded me (through the "Thank you" form),
    asking why he (or she ?) should use parentheses when his source (textbook, teacher's assignment sheet and so on)
    does not contain these parentheses ?

Good question !

     The answer is: That sources have TYPOGRAPHY MEANS to represent the fractions, writing them in two levels /
     numerators and denominators, divided by horizontal lines.

     Such typography tools ABSENT in this forum, THEREFORE the customers SHOULD write parentheses to present numerators and denominators
     explicitly.


Hope this explanation makes this issue absolutely clear.