For any real numbers a and b such that a is not equal to -b, a • b be defined by a • b = (a-b/a+b).?
If a - b = 64 and a • b = 16, what is the value of a?
I don't really get this question but I keep getting the answer a = 4 - b. I'm sure that's not right :/ can you help me? thank you
More Questions From This User See All
Answers & Comments
(a-b)/(a+b) = 16 ==> 64/(a+b) = 16 ===> a+b = 4
So, you have:
a + b = 4,
a - b = 64
--------------------------------
2a = 68
a = 34
(a-b)/(a+b) = 16
and a - b = 64 ---> a = 64 - b
then plug this into the other equation:
(64-b-b)/(64-b+b) = 16
(64-2b)/64 = 16
64 - 2b = 1024 ---> b = -480
a - (-480) = 64 ---> a = 544