SOLUTION: the sum of a number and its multiplicative inverse is five times the number.

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Question 1112352: the sum of a number and its multiplicative inverse is five times the number.
Answer by ikleyn(52788) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
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The number is  +/-1%2F2 = +/- 0.5.


I solved it mentally.


You can solve this equation


x + 1%2Fx = 5x


The first step is to multiply both sides by x:


x^2 + 1 = 5x^2


4x^2 = 1  ====>  x^2 = 1%2F4  ====>  x = sqrt%281%2F4%29 = +/- 1%2F2.

Solved.