Math  /  Algebra

QuestionQUESTION 7
What is the sum of all the solutions of the equation x1x+1+4x1=52\frac{x-1}{x+1}+\frac{4}{x-1}=\frac{5}{2} ?
A 0 C 43\frac{4}{3} B 23\frac{2}{3} D 2 a) b) c) d)

Studdy Solution

STEP 1

What is this asking? We need to find all the values of xx that make this equation true, and then add them together! Watch out! Remember to check if any solutions make the denominator zero, because that's a no-no!

STEP 2

1. Rewrite the equation
2. Solve for xx
3. Check for invalid solutions
4. Calculate the sum

STEP 3

Let's make this equation easier to work with.
We can do this by getting rid of those pesky fractions!
Notice that (x+1)(x+1) and (x1)(x-1) are in the denominators.
So, we can multiply *both sides* of the equation by 2(x+1)(x1)2 \cdot (x+1) \cdot (x-1) to get rid of the fractions.
Remember, we're multiplying *every* term by this!

STEP 4

2(x+1)(x1)x1x+1+2(x+1)(x1)4x1=2(x+1)(x1)52 2 \cdot (x+1) \cdot (x-1) \cdot \frac{x-1}{x+1} + 2 \cdot (x+1) \cdot (x-1) \cdot \frac{4}{x-1} = 2 \cdot (x+1) \cdot (x-1) \cdot \frac{5}{2} Now, we can divide to one!

STEP 5

2(x1)(x1)+2(x+1)4=(x+1)(x1)5 2 \cdot (x-1) \cdot (x-1) + 2 \cdot (x+1) \cdot 4 = (x+1) \cdot (x-1) \cdot 5 2(x1)2+8(x+1)=5(x+1)(x1) 2(x-1)^2 + 8(x+1) = 5(x+1)(x-1)

STEP 6

Expand everything! 2(x22x+1)+8x+8=5(x21) 2(x^2 - 2x + 1) + 8x + 8 = 5(x^2 - 1) 2x24x+2+8x+8=5x25 2x^2 - 4x + 2 + 8x + 8 = 5x^2 - 5

STEP 7

Combine like terms and move everything to one side to get a nice quadratic equation: 2x2+4x+10=5x25 2x^2 + 4x + 10 = 5x^2 - 5 0=3x24x15 0 = 3x^2 - 4x - 15

STEP 8

We can use the quadratic formula to solve for xx!
Remember, for an equation of the form ax2+bx+c=0ax^2 + bx + c = 0, the solutions are given by: x=b±b24ac2a x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a} In our case, a=3a = \mathbf{3}, b=4b = \mathbf{-4}, and c=15c = \mathbf{-15}.

STEP 9

Let's plug those values in: x=(4)±(4)243(15)23 x = \frac{-(-4) \pm \sqrt{(-4)^2 - 4 \cdot 3 \cdot (-15)}}{2 \cdot 3} x=4±16+1806 x = \frac{4 \pm \sqrt{16 + 180}}{6} x=4±1966 x = \frac{4 \pm \sqrt{196}}{6} x=4±146 x = \frac{4 \pm 14}{6}

STEP 10

So, we have two possible solutions: x=4+146=186=3 x = \frac{4 + 14}{6} = \frac{18}{6} = 3 x=4146=106=53 x = \frac{4 - 14}{6} = \frac{-10}{6} = -\frac{5}{3}

STEP 11

Remember, we can't have xx values that make the denominator zero in the original equation!
Let's check: * If x=3x = 3, the denominators are 3+1=43+1=4 and 31=23-1=2.
These are fine! * If x=53x = -\frac{5}{3}, the denominators are 53+1=23-\frac{5}{3} + 1 = -\frac{2}{3} and 531=83-\frac{5}{3} - 1 = -\frac{8}{3}.
These are also fine!

STEP 12

Now, we just add our solutions together: 3+(53)=353=9353=43 3 + \left(-\frac{5}{3}\right) = 3 - \frac{5}{3} = \frac{9}{3} - \frac{5}{3} = \frac{4}{3}

STEP 13

The sum of the solutions is 43\frac{4}{3}.
So the answer is C!

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