this is question is in combinations lesson in algebra in maths 2
in Other Math Topics by

Your answer

Your name to display (optional):
Privacy: Your email address will only be used for sending these notifications.
Anti-spam verification:
To avoid this verification in future, please log in or register.

1 Answer

npr:n+2pr+2:n+4pr+4=3:14:14.
Split this into fractions:
npr/(n+2pr+2)=3/14; (n+2pr+2)/(n+4pr+4)=14/14=1; npr/(n+4pr+4)=3/14.
We can form more equations:
14npr=3(n+2pr+2); n+2pr+2=n+4pr+4; 14npr=3(n+4pr+4).
So 2pr+2=4pr+4, 2pr+2=0, pr=-1.
Therefore: -14n=3n, so n=0. However, we would have 0:0:0=3:14:14 which makes no sense, so the question may be wrongly stated.

Let the ratios be A:B:C (undefined), then:

(1) npr/(n+2pr+2)=A/B; (2) (n+2pr+2)/(n+4pr+4)=B/C; (3) npr/(n+4pr+4)=A/C.

Then:

(1) Bnpr=A(n+2pr+2); (2) C(n+2pr+2)=B(n+4pr+4);  (3) Cnpr=A(n+4pr+4).

(2) n(C-B)-2pr(2B-C)=4B-2C=2(2B-C), (4) n=2(pr+1)(2B-C)/(C-B). Note that B≠C (otherwise pr=-1 and n is indeterminate), and 2B≠C (otherwise n=0).

Substitute for n in (1):

2Bpr(pr+1)(2B-C)/(C-B)=A(2(pr+1)(2B-C)/(C-B)+2(pr+1)),

2Bpr(pr+1)(2B-C)=A(2(pr+1)(2B-C)+2(pr+1)(C-B); divide through by 2(pr+1):

Bpr(2B-C)=A(2B-C+C-B)=AB, pr=A/(2B-C); n=2(A/(2B-C)+1)(2B-C)/(C-B)=2(A+2B-C)/(C-B).

Clearly, B=C=14 wouldn't work.

by Top Rated User (1.2m points)

Related questions

1 answer
1 answer
asked May 19, 2013 in Algebra 2 Answers by anonymous | 580 views
1 answer
asked Apr 30, 2013 in Algebra 2 Answers by anonymous | 605 views
1 answer
1 answer
asked Aug 25, 2011 in Algebra 2 Answers by Zack Appling Level 1 User (120 points) | 750 views
1 answer
1 answer
asked May 19, 2014 in Algebra 2 Answers by constance17 Level 1 User (120 points) | 1.4k views
1 answer
asked Feb 28, 2014 in Algebra 2 Answers by anonymous | 680 views
2 answers
1 answer
asked Jan 28, 2014 in Algebra 2 Answers by grace | 660 views
Welcome to MathHomeworkAnswers.org, where students, teachers and math enthusiasts can ask and answer any math question. Get help and answers to any math problem including algebra, trigonometry, geometry, calculus, trigonometry, fractions, solving expression, simplifying expressions and more. Get answers to math questions. Help is always 100% free!
87,516 questions
100,279 answers
2,420 comments
732,215 users