How do you solve x/9 + 5/x = 2?

2 Answers
Oct 1, 2016

x=3 or x=15

Explanation:

As x/9+5/x=2

we have (x xx x+5xx9)/(9x)=2

or (x^2+45)/(9x)=2

Assuming x!=0 and multiplying both sides by 9x

x^2+45=18x or x^2-18x+45=0

or x^2-3x-15x+45=0

or x(x-3)-15(x-3)=0

or (x-15)(x-3)=0

i.e. either x-3 =0 i.e. x=3

or x-15=0 i.e. x=15

Oct 1, 2016

x= 15 " or " x = 3

Explanation:

If you have an equation which has fractions, you can get rid of the fractions by multiplying every term by the LCD.

In x/9+5/x= 2" "larr" "LCD= color(red)(9x)

(color(red)(9x)xx x)/9+(color(red)(9x)xx5)/x= color(red)(9x)xx2" "larr cancel the denominators.

(color(red)(cancel9x)xx x)/cancel9+(color(red)(9cancelx)xx5)/cancelx= color(red)(9x)xx2

x^2 +45 = 18x" "larr make the quadratic = 0

x^2 -18x +45 =0

(x-15)(x-3) = 0

Making each factor = 0 gives,
x= 15 " or " x = 3