If p=4xy/(x+y) then how much is (p+2x)/(p−2x)+(p+2y)/(p−2y)?

2 Answers
Jan 16, 2017

If p=4xy/(x+y)
then
color(white)("XXX")(p+2x)/(p-2x)+(p+2y)/(p-2y)=color(green)2

Explanation:

There may be a simpler way to get this result, but I am not certain that I have interpreted the question correctly, so I will just use a sledgehammer approach.

Note 1: I've used (4xy)/(x+y) in place of the form given: 4xy/(x+y)
but these are equivalent.

Note 2: I've also assumed that x!=y and neither x not y are =0

Part 1: Simplifying (p+2x)/(p-2x)

(p+2x)/(p-2x)
color(white)("XXX")=((4xy)/(x+y)+2x)/((4xy)/(x+y)-2x)

color(white)("XXX")=((4xy+2x^2+2xy)/(x+y))/((4xy-2x^2-2xy)/(x+y))

color(white)("XXX")=(4xy+2x^2+2xy)/(4xy-2x^2-2xy)

color(white)("XXX")=(6xy+2x^2)/(2xy-2x^2)

color(white)("XXX")=(3y+x)/(y-x)

Part 2: Simplifying (p+2y)/(p-2y)
Omitting the details but following the same process as above:
(p+2y)/(p-2y)
color(white)("XXX")=(3x+y)/(x-y)

Part 3: Evaluating the Sum (p+2x)/(p-2x)+(p+2y)/(p-2y)
(p+2x)/(p-2x)+(p+2y)/(p-2y)
color(white)("XXX")=(3y+x)/(y-x)+(3x+y)/(x-y)

color(white)("XXX")=((3y+x)-(3x+y))/(y-x)

color(white)("XXX")=(2y-2x)/(y-x)

color(white)("XXX")=(2 (cancel(y-x)))/cancel(y-x)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The assumption that x+y!=0 is implied by the definition of p
but the effect of the other assumptions: x!=y; x!=0; y!=0
should be evaluated.

Jan 16, 2017

(p+2x)/(p-2x)+(p+2y)/(p-2y)=2

Explanation:

Let us use here the concept of Componendo and Dividendo. This essentially states that if r/s=u/v, then (r+s)/(r-s)=(u+v)/(u-v).

As r/s=u/v, adding 1 to each side we get r/s+1=u/v+1 or (r+s)/s=(u+v)/v. This is called Componendo.

and subtracting 1 from each side we get r/s-1=u/v-1 or (r-s)/s=(u-v)/v. This is called Dividendo.

Their ratio gives us (r+s)/(r-s)=(u+v)/(u-v), which is called applying Componendo and Dividendo together.

Coming to the problem p=4xy/(x+y)=(4xy)/(x+y)

i.e. p/(2x)=(2y)/(x+y)

Now applying Componendo and Dividendo, we get

(p+2x)/(p-2x)=(2y+x+y)/(2y-x-y) ...............(A)

and as p/(2y)=(2x)/(x+y)

applying Componendo and Dividendo, we get

(p+2y)/(p-2y)=(2x+x+y)/(2x-x-y) ...............(B)

Adding (A) and (B) , we get

(p+2y)/(p-2y)+(p+2y)/(p-2y)=(2y+x+y)/(2y-x-y)+(2x+x+y)/(2x-x-y)

=(3y+x)/(y-x)+(3x+y)/(x-y)

=(-3y-x+3x+y)/(x-y)

=(2x-2y)/(x-y)=2