College Algebra (10th Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0321979478
ISBN 13: 978-0-32197-947-6

Chapter 8 - Section 8.6 - Systems of Nonlinear Equations - 8.6 Assess Your Understanding - Page 616: 75

Answer

$a=\frac{1}{2}$ and $b=\frac{1}{3}$

Work Step by Step

$a-b=ab,$ $\frac{1}{a}+\frac{1}{b}=5,$ $\frac{b+a}{ab}=5,$ $b+a=5ab,$ $b+a=5(a-b),$ $a+b=5a-5b,$ $6b=4a,$ $a=\frac{3}{2}b$ $\frac{3}{2}b-b=\frac{3}{2}b(b),$ $\frac{1}{2}b=\frac{3}{2}b^2,$ $0=\frac{3}{2}b^2-\frac{1}{2}b,$ $0=\frac{1}{2}b(3b-1),$ $b=0$ or $b=\frac{1}{3}$ $a=0$ or $a=\frac{1}{2}$ Therefore, $a=\frac{1}{2}$ and $b=\frac{1}{3}$
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