SOLUTION: A positive number whose reciprocal equals one less than the number, is

Algebra ->  Customizable Word Problem Solvers  -> Numbers -> SOLUTION: A positive number whose reciprocal equals one less than the number, is      Log On

Ad: Over 600 Algebra Word Problems at edhelper.com


   



Question 862601: A positive number whose reciprocal equals one
less than the number, is

Answer by Fombitz(32388) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let N be the number,
1%2FN=N-1
1=N%5E2-N
N%5E2-N-1=0
Use the quadratic formula,
N+=+%28-b+%2B-+sqrt%28+b%5E2-4%2Aa%2Ac+%29%29%2F%282%2Aa%29+
N+=+%28-%28-1%29+%2B-+sqrt%28+%28-1%29%5E2-4%2A1%2A%28-1%29+%29%29%2F%282%2A1%29+
N+=+%281+%2B-+sqrt%28+1%2B4+%29%29%2F%282%29+
N+=+%281+%2B-+sqrt%28+5+%29%29%2F%282%29+
Since you only want the positive solution,
N+=+%281+%2B+sqrt%285+%29%29%2F%282%29+