SOLUTION: Find the values of the positive numbers a and b, given that a is 8 times the size of b and the reciprocal of ab is 1 less than 3.

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Question 139850: Find the values of the positive numbers a and b, given that a is 8 times the size of b and the reciprocal of ab is 1 less than 3.
Answer by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740) About Me  (Show Source):
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Find the values of the positive numbers a and b,
:
given that a is 8 times the size of b
a = 8b
:
and the reciprocal of ab is 1 less than 3.
1%2F%28ab%29 + 1 = 3
:1%2F%28ab%29 = 2; subtract 1 from both sides
2ab = 1
:
2(8b*b) = 1; substitute 8b for a
16b^2 = 1
b^2 = 1%2F16
b = sqrt%281%2F16%29
b = 1/4
then
a = 8*1%2F4
a = 2
:
:
Check solution in the statement:"a is 8 times the size of b"
2 = 8 * (1/4)