CAN YOU SOLVE THIS PROBLEM?? tricky word problem I bet NO ONE can solve

Question

 

The sum of two numbers is nine. The product of the same two numbers is thirty-eight. Find the sum of the reciprocals of these two numbers

 

Answer 1

THE SUM OF TWO NUMBERS I.E X+Y = 9

THE PRODUCT OF THE SAME TWO NUMBERS XY = 38

RECIPROCAL OF THE TWO NUMBERS = 1/X , 1/Y

SUM OF RECIPROCALS = 1/X+1/Y , TAKING THE LCM AS XY THAT EQUATION CHANGES TO X+Y/XY

SINCE WE KNOW X+Y=9 AND XY=38 THEREFORE THE SUM OF THE RECIPROCALS WOULD BE

9/38

Comments

Agreed.  It looks like X and Y would have to be complex though.

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I think it's this, but I'm a little weak with complex numbers.

x + y = 9
x = 9 - y
xy=38
(9-y)y = 38
9y - y^2 = 38
y^2 - 9y + 38 = 0
y = (9 +- Sqrt((-9)^2 - 4*1*38))/2*1
y = (9 +- Sqrt(81 - 172))/2
y = (9 +- Sqrt(-91))/2
y = 9/2 +- Sqrt(91)i/2
x = 9 - 9/2 -+ Sqrt(91)i/2
x = 9/2 -+ Sqrt(91)i/2

Answer 2

Not trying to make fun of anyone's intelligence. I just thought this would be impossible, and judging by the lack of answers, I guess it is. Can someone please find the answer, I'm not good at math.

Answer 3

1+8=9               1*8=8

2+7=9               2*7=14

3+6=9               3*6=18

4+5=9               4*5=20

4.5 +4.5=9       4.5*4.5=20.25

20.25 = maximum value

Thus 38 is not reachable and the problem is not valid