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? asked in Science & MathematicsMathematics · 1 year ago

help with this algebra question!?

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    If a solution gives us a fraction with a denominator of 0, then that solution is extraneous

    x / (x + 2) = 5 / (x - 4)

    Cross-multiply

    x * (x - 4) = 5 * (x + 2)

    x^2 - 4x = 5x + 10

    x^2 - 9x - 10 = 0

    x = (9 +/- sqrt(81 + 40)) / 2

    x = (9 +/- sqrt(121)) / 2

    x = (9 +/- 11) / 2

    x = 20/2 , -2/2

    x = 10 , -1

    x = 10 and x = -1 are the solutions to our problem.  Let's find possible exceptions by letting the denominators of each fraction equal 0

    x + 2 = 0

    x = -2

    x - 4 = 0

    x = 4

    Extraneous solutions would be x = -2  and x = 4

    Since x = -2 and x = 4 are not part of our solution set, then there are no extraneous solutions

    x = -1 , 10

    Test them in the original problem

    x / (x + 2) = 5 / (x - 4)

    -1 / (-1 + 2) = 5 / (-1 - 4)

    -1 / (1) = 5 / (-5)

    -1 = -1

    10 / (10 + 2) = 5 / (10 - 4)

    10 / 12 = 5 / 6

    5/6 = 5/6

    Both solutions work out, so there are no extraneous solutions at all.

  • ?
    Lv 7
    1 year ago

    Solve the equation x/(x + 2) = 5/(x - 4)

    x(x - 4) = 5(x + 2)

    x^2 - 9x - 10 = 0

    (x + 1)(x - 10) = 0

    Solutions:

    a) There are no extraneous solutions  

    c) x = 10

    d) x = -1 

  • Anonymous
    1 year ago

    Simply substitute the answers into the equation and check

    4 / (4 + 2) = 5 / (4 - 4).  Does the LHS equal the RHS?  If not, it's not an answer.

    Check the next and so on.

  • 1 year ago

    Your equation:

    x / (x + 2) = 5 / (x - 4)

    First, we see that x cannot be -2 or 4 to prevent dividing by zero.

    Next, multiply both sides by the LCD to get rid of the fractions:

    x(x - 4) = 5(x + 2)

    x² - 4x = 5x + 10

    x² - 9x - 10 = 0

    (x - 10)(x + 1) = 0

    x = -1 and 10

    These aren't in our "divide by zero" checks, so we have two values for x so far. Test them against the original equation to see if any are extraneous:

    x / (x + 2) = 5 / (x - 4)

    -1 / (-1 + 2) = 5 / (-1 - 4) and 10 / (10 + 2) = 5 / (10 - 4)

    -1 / 1 = 5 / (-5) and 10 / 12 = 5 / 6

    -1 = -1 and 5 / 6 = 5 / 6

    TRUE and TRUE

    Both solutions check out so there are no extraneous solutions.

    -2 and 4 would only count as extraneous if the solution to the quadratic contained these values.

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