Question 526830
{{{1/x + 1/(x+3) = 1/4}}}
trick is to multiply both sides by a common denominator 4x(x+3) to rid ourselves of all the denominators:
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Multiplying both sides by 4x(x+3) we get:
{{{4(x+3) + 4x = x(x+3)}}}
{{{4x+12 + 4x = x^2+3x}}}
{{{8x+12 = x^2+3x}}}
{{{12 = x^2-5x}}}
{{{0 = x^2-5x-12}}}
since we can't factor, we apply the quadratic formula to get:
x = {6.772, -1.772}
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Details of quadratic formula follows:
*[invoke quadratic "x", 1, -5, -12 ]