SOLUTION: What number has the property that its reciprocal is one less than the number? hint: the number is not an interger.

Algebra ->  Customizable Word Problem Solvers  -> Geometry -> SOLUTION: What number has the property that its reciprocal is one less than the number? hint: the number is not an interger.      Log On

Ad: Over 600 Algebra Word Problems at edhelper.com


    

Question 21269: What number has the property that its reciprocal is one less than the number? hint: the number is not an interger.
Answer by venugopalramana(3286) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
LET THE NUMBER = X
ONE LESS THAN THE NUMBER =X-1
RECIPROCAL =1/X
SO X-1=1/X..MULTIPLYING BY X
X(X-1)=1
X^2-X-1=0
USING THE QUADRATIC FORMULA
x+=+%28-b+%2B-+sqrt%28+b%5E2-4%2Aa%2Ac+%29%29%2F%282%2Aa%29+ ,WE HAVE A=1,B= -1,C= -1...SO
x+=+%281+%2B-+sqrt%28+1%2B4+%29%29%2F%282%29+
HENCE THE NUMBERS ARE ..NOTE THAT THERE ARE 2 ANSWERS
x+=+%281+%2B-+sqrt%285%29%29%2F%282%29+