The sum of a number adn its reciprocal is 17/8.Find the number

Question

x+1/x=17/8

Answer 1

The sum of a number and its reciprocal is 17/8.Find the number

Let the number be n.

Then n + 1/n = 17/8     multiply both sides by 8n

8n^2 + 8 = 17n

8n^2 - 17n + 8 = 0

Using the quadratic formula,

n = (17 ±√(17^2 – 4*8*8))/(2*8)

n = (17 ±√(289 – 256))/(16)

n = (17 ±√(33))/(16)

n = (17 + √(33))/(16), n = (17 – √(33))/(16)