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Question:

syedajmain
syedajmain
Student

Solve the equation: (3x-1)+{1/(3x-1)}=5

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Posted by syedajmain on Tuesday March 3, 2009 at 7:14 AM and tagged with math.


Answers:


  1. kmieciakp Teacher
    High School - 12th Grade

    (3x-1)+[1/(3x-1)]=5

    (3x-1)(3x-1) + 1 = 5(3x-1)

    9x^2 -6x + 1 +1=15x-5

    9x^2 -21x +2 = - 5

    9x^2 -21x +7 = 0

    (       )(       )=0

    check the equation--it doesn't factor--see if you wrote it down right please-- I think you meant = negative 5--then it would work fine

    then send it back to me . . .I love doing these things

    thanks

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    Posted by kmieciakp on Tuesday March 3, 2009 at 11:17 AM

  2. neela
    neela Teacher
    Graduate School

    eNotes Editor

    (3x-1)+{1/(3x-1)}=5

    Mutiply by the denominator (3x-1) to get rid of the fractional form.

    (3x-1)^2+1=5(3x-1)

    9x^2-6x +2=15x-5.

    9x^2-6x-15x+7=0

    9x^2-21x+7 is a quadratic equation of the form ax^2+bx+c=0 whose roots are given by

    x=[b-sqrt(b^2-4ac)}/(2a).

    a=9,b=-21 and c=7. Substing in the quadratic equation we get the roots:

    x= [-(-21) +or- sqrt(21^2-4*9*7)}/(2*9}

    x=[7+sqrt21]6   or  x=[7-sqrt21]/6

    x=1.9304approximately,  or  x=0.4029 approx.

    You can put back int he original equations

     

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    Posted by neela on Thursday June 11, 2009 at 5:55 AM