• Congratulations to the Class of 2024 on your results!
    Let us know how you went here
    Got a question about your uni preferences? Ask us here

basic algebra and arithmetic "marathon". (3 Viewers)

Riot09

Member
Joined
Oct 7, 2009
Messages
371
Location
The octagon
Gender
Male
HSC
2011
I'm pretty sure most of you know what a "marathon" is but for those who don't its basically a game.

in short a person posts a question for the current topic and somebody else solves it and posts their own question related to the topic.

-Please include working out (since most 3u and 2u exams rrquire it and it helps other people learn.Thank you for reading this and i hope you participate.

1.(x+2)^2 + (x-1)(x-7)=17
 

stevey6404

Member
Joined
Jul 23, 2009
Messages
134
Gender
Male
HSC
2011
(x+2)^2 + (x-1)(x-7) = 17
Now Expand...
x^2 + 4x+ 4 + x^2 - 8x + 7- 17 = 0
Simplify.
2x^2 - 4x - 6 = 0
(2x-6)(x+1) = 0
Therefore x = 3 or x = -1

Okay, my turn.

"In the notes it was proven that x^2 + y^2 >= (large than or equal to) 2xy. Use this result and appropriate substitutions to prove

a) a + (1/a) >= 2, for a > 0
b) (a+b)/2 >= Square root (ab), for a and b both positive.
 
Last edited:

Riot09

Member
Joined
Oct 7, 2009
Messages
371
Location
The octagon
Gender
Male
HSC
2011
how come you didnt add a quesion stevey?.Anyway ill just add one from a book.

solve:25x^2=81
 

stevey6404

Member
Joined
Jul 23, 2009
Messages
134
Gender
Male
HSC
2011
how come you didnt add a quesion stevey?.Anyway ill just add one from a book.

solve:25x^2=81
Oh i forgot :L
but I edited it but I'll post it again after this answer:

25x^2 = 81
Square root both side..imagine it as Square root 25 x square root x^2 = square root 81
5x = +- (positive negative) 9
therefore x = 9/5 or -9/5

"In the notes it was proven that x^2 + y^2 >= (large than or equal to) 2xy. Use this result and appropriate substitutions to prove

a) a + (1/a) >= 2, for a > 0
b) (a+b)/2 >= Square root (ab), for a and b both positive."


If you can't solve it, just post a new question. I'll just repeat this question after every post.
 

Riot09

Member
Joined
Oct 7, 2009
Messages
371
Location
The octagon
Gender
Male
HSC
2011
okay,im pretty new to this-are you sure this is in this topic?,anyway i think iv'e got an answer.

a) a + (1/a) >= 2, for a > 0

therefore is a=2 it follows that 2+2/1 >2 (a>0)
2.5 > 2
therefore the equation is correct.

b)(a+b)/2 >= (ab),Square root for a and b both positive.

therefore 2+2/2 >or equal to Square root of 2x2

4/2 >oe equal to Square root of 4

2>or equal to 2

therefor the equation is correct

(i havent done this type of question before so can you please tell me where you got it from,which txtbook or was it in a exam,classnotes etc.
 

muzeikchun852

Active Member
Joined
Mar 29, 2009
Messages
1,590
Gender
Undisclosed
HSC
2011
since u havent post any question.
i will post one:

|2x-1| = |x+4|
 

stevey6404

Member
Joined
Jul 23, 2009
Messages
134
Gender
Male
HSC
2011
since u havent post any question.
i will post one:

|2x-1| = |x+4|
|2x-1| = |x+4|

(2x-1)^2 - (x+4)^2 = 0
difference of 2 squares
[(2x-1)-(x+4)] [(2x-1)+(x+4)] = 0
(x-5)(3x+3)=0
therefore x = 5 or x = -1

there's also another way to do it but it's longer.
 
Last edited:

x jiim

zimbardooo.
Joined
Jul 10, 2008
Messages
477
Gender
Female
HSC
2010
Uni Grad
2018
In the notes it was proven that x^2 + y^2 >= (large than or equal to) 2xy. Use this result and appropriate substitutions to prove

a) a + (1/a) >= 2, for a > 0
b) (a+b)/2 >= Square root (ab), for a and b both positive."
okay,im pretty new to this-are you sure this is in this topic?,anyway i think iv'e got an answer.

a) a + (1/a) >= 2, for a > 0

therefore is a=2 it follows that 2+2/1 >2 (a>0)
2.5 > 2
therefore the equation is correct.
I think it is in the topic- sub x=sqrt(a) and y=1/(sqrt(a))
(sqrt(a))^2 + (1/(sqrt(a)))^2 >= 2*(sqrt(a))*(1/(sqrt(a)))
a + 1/a >= 2

b)(a+b)/2 >= (ab),Square root for a and b both positive.

therefore 2+2/2 >or equal to Square root of 2x2

4/2 >oe equal to Square root of 4

2>or equal to 2

therefor the equation is correct

(i havent done this type of question before so can you please tell me where you got it from,which txtbook or was it in a exam,classnotes etc.
Sub x=sqrt(a) and y=sqrt(b)
(sqrt(a))^2 + (sqrt(b))^2 >= 2*sqrt(a)*sqrt(b)
a + b >= 2sqrt(ab)
(a+b)/2 >= sqrt(ab)

that's how you do those questions, used to get them all the time in class and exams etc. it's useful to know how to do them in case you get asked.
 

stevey6404

Member
Joined
Jul 23, 2009
Messages
134
Gender
Male
HSC
2011
I think it is in the topic- sub x=sqrt(a) and y=1/(sqrt(a))
(sqrt(a))^2 + (1/(sqrt(a)))^2 >= 2*(sqrt(a))*(1/(sqrt(a)))
a + 1/a >= 2

Sub x=sqrt(a) and y=sqrt(b)
(sqrt(a))^2 + (sqrt(b))^2 >= 2*sqrt(a)*sqrt(b)
a + b >= 2sqrt(ab)
(a+b)/2 >= sqrt(ab)

that's how you do those questions, used to get them all the time in class and exams etc. it's useful to know how to do them in case you get asked.
omg genius!
How did you know what to let x and y be? Do you just look at it and just get it magically?

Thanks very much for the help =]
 
Last edited:

stevey6404

Member
Joined
Jul 23, 2009
Messages
134
Gender
Male
HSC
2011
Since no one posted a new question...

(x+2)^2 + (y-1)^2
= x^2 + 4x + 4 + y^2 - 2y + 1
Rearrange.
=x^2 + y^2 + 4x - 2y + 1 + 4
since x^2 + y^2 + 4x - 2y + 1 = 0
= 0 + 4
= 4


My question
Prove that x^2 + xy + y^2 > 0 for any non-zero values of x and y
 

carmot

Member
Joined
Nov 5, 2009
Messages
35
Gender
Female
HSC
2011
hmm, not too sure about my setting out but:

x^2 + xy + y^2 = x^2 + 2xy + y^2 - xy

= (x+y)^2 - xy

since (x+y)^2 > xy

x^2 + xy + y^2 > 0

my question:

Find the values of k for which the quadratic equation
x^2 - (k+3)x + (k+6) = 0
has real roots
 
Last edited:

Users Who Are Viewing This Thread (Users: 0, Guests: 3)

Top